Why did Vasco da Gama’s fleet carry Arabic and Bantu-language interpreters?

Vasco da Gama’s fleet carried three interpreters—two who spoke Arabic and one who spoke several Bantu dialects—to facilitate communication during his historic expedition to India.1

These interpreters were essential for navigating the diverse linguistic landscape of the African coast and the Indian Ocean, where the Portuguese encountered various local populations and established trade contacts. Arabic served as a widespread language of commerce and diplomacy in the coastal regions of East Africa and the Indian Ocean, while knowledge of Bantu dialects was necessary for interacting with the indigenous peoples along the African coast as the fleet rounded the Cape of Good Hope. By including these linguists, da Gama aimed to bridge communication gaps, gather information about local customs and trade, and secure the success of the mission to open a direct sea route to the East.1