The correct response is:
Traders from Asia and the Middle East settled in East Africa and shared their cultural ideas, especially their religions.
This statement accurately reflects the impact of the Indian Ocean trade network on East African culture. Through trade, various cultures, especially those from the Arab and Swahili regions, interacted and influenced each other, leading to a blending of traditions, customs, and religions. Islam, for instance, became a prominent faith in coastal East Africa as Muslim traders settled in the region, establishing towns and trading posts, which facilitated cultural exchange.