Sangage was one of three main Muslim settlements between Quelimane and Mozambique Island, the others being the Angoche Sultanate and Sancul Shiekhdom.
Sangage, like Sancul, was founded by Shirazi clans originating from Mozambique Island after the Portuguese seized it in the 17th century.
[2] By the time of Portuguese arrival in the early 19th century, Sangage began thriving on the slave trade, becoming an economic rival to the Angoche to the south.
Since the Portuguese lacked a military foothold in northern Mozambique, they exerted influence by widening cleavages in native politics.
However, the sheikh's successor, Musa Ibrahimo Phiri (1904–1912) continued to quietly resist the Portuguese and traded slaves.