Lamu, Kenya
| Name of the Inscribed Sector | Lamu Old Town. |
| Year of inscription on the World Heritage List | 2001 |
| Location and site | Lamu town is situated on Lamu island north of Mombasa (225miles) Conservation Area, Lamu town, Kenya. |
| Historical Function | Earliest Seaport of call in East Africa, Continuous practices of Swahili Culture. Unique Swahili Architecture. Islamic centre in East Africa and annual religious festivals. |
| Administrative Status | District headquarters of Lamu region - Central Government. |
| Foundation | 12th century settlement. |
| Population | 10,000 |
History
- Origins of Lamu
Lamu is a Swahili town located on the East African coast and is among the urban settlements dotting the Coast with origin as far as the 8th century.The town that dates to probably the 10th century from archaeological records flourished in the early 13th century as one of the important independent city states on the stretch of the East African coast.The town is first mentioned by an Arab writer/traveller: Abu-al-Mahasini who met a Qadi (Muslim Judge) from Lamu visiting Mecca in 1441. The Portuguese also mention the town in 1506 when Trusteede Cunha blocked it and imposed a tax, which was paid without resistance.
- Portuguese Period
The Portuguese came to East Africa at the end of the 15th century, on their way to the East to source for spices. In 1506 Lamu suffered an invasion by the Portuguese who sought to control the Indian Ocean trade. Along the entire East African Coast, the Portuguese fleet monopolised shipping and suppressed coastal commerce by imposing duties on most exports. However, in 1585 and 1588 there were Turkish raids that incited many of the northern coastal towns including Lamu to rise to rebellion; these were however crushed by the Portuguese.
- Omani Period
In 1652 the Sultanate of Oman, a new maritime power on the south-eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, was persuaded to help the Swahili city-states remove the Portuguese once and for all. The Omanis succeeded in expelling the Portuguese forty years later: in 1698In 1744, the Omani family sent to Mombasa, a clan called Mazrui, broke with Oman and began to rule Mombasa as an independent city-state, a status quo that lasted until their removal by the Omani ruler, Sayyid Said. Said moved to Zanzibar in 1832 transferring his capital to this East African island and exerting political influence on the whole coast until the arrival of the British and German colonial power.
- Development of the town
The town’s buildings developed first as small clusters of stone houses in the present Pangahari and Yumbe area at the northern end of the town. This is where the Council’s chamber was located and the Friday mosque still is. The original market area lay west of the Yumbe at the mitaa called Utuku Mkuu (the Great Market). Over time, the town spread south to the area called Mtamwini, just north of Lamu Fort. This development represented the full extent of the town at its peak in the late eighteenth century. By the 15th century, Lamu was already a thriving city-state. It is an exceptional Swahili town with more than 700 years of continuous habitation. In this context, it is the oldest of East Africa’s living towns. Most of the other Swahili settlements underwent modern changes, while others were reduced to ruins along the East African coast, particularly on the northern section of the coast.
- History of Trade
Lamu was a flourishing seaport around the 1500’s and acted as a hub around the Indian Ocean and beyond. Its major exports included ivory and timber in exchange of for manufactured goods such as clothes and spices across the Indian Ocean.Lamu was developed through maritime trade with traders plying from the Arabian peninsula and the Far East to Kenya’s coast for barter trade. The movement of trade was regulated by the seasonal wind of the north easterly and south easterly for bringing in their merchant dhows and going back. With increased trade and other maritime activities in the mid-nineteenth century, numerous developments concentrated on the sea front.The town’s people served as middlemen between the people of East Africa interior and traders from Arabia and India. Apart from consumer products, other luxury goods included cloths and porcelain imported to East Africa.The overseas merchants sailed southwards from Arabia and Asia with Kaskazi winds (north-east monsoon) which blows from December to March and return north with the kusi winds (south-east monsoon), which blows from April to October. Lamu maintained its link with Arabia and Persian gulf through out.
- Lamu and Religion
Lamu became an important religious centre in the 19th century as a result of the tarika activities introduced by Habib Swaleh, who was a Shariff (a descendant of Prophet Mohamed (P.B.U.H)). He has many descendant who now trace direct descent from prophet Mohamed(P.B.U.H.). They have kept up the tradition of ‘Maulidi’, which has remained an annual festival, celebrating the birth of the Prophet. These festivals were exclusively held in Lamu and have continued to be so to date. Over time they attracted other Muslim followers from all over East and Central Africa as well as the Gulf. Lamu is also an Islamic and Swahili education centre in East Africa. Many researchers and scholars of Islamic religion and Swahili language come to Lamu to study the cultural heritage, which is relatively unchanged due to conservatism of the place.
- British Period
In 1890, the entire coastal strip north of Zanzibar was assigned to the Imperial British East African Company. A few years later in July 1895, the East African Protectorate was established and by the year 1898 the Protectorate was organized into Provinces and Districts under the new British administration. Thereafter Lamu old town became the headquarters of Lamu District, administered by a resident British official together with a Muslim official, Liwali (Viceroy). Between 1813 and 1963 Lamu had twenty-four Liwalis. until Kenya’s Independence in 1963. During the British rule many houses at were erected at the sea front and Lamu flourished. However, the town’s fortunes declined gradually with the building of the Uganda Railroad from Mombasa to Uganda and the eventual transfer of the seat of the Protectorate government from Mombasa to Nairobi, after the completion of the Uganda Railroad in 1901.
- Lamu after Independence
Increasing population growth and economic development in the 1970’s led to growing pressure on the built-up area of historic Lamu town. The majority of the population of the historic town are low-income earners and spatial needs made extension of some houses necessary. The cost of traditional building materials formed an extra burden on the other hand, and in order to avoid this, owners often resorted to cheap and modern materials. However the Kenyan government was already aware of these problems in the seventies and Lamu’s potential; the government therefore authorized the first study on Lamu, which was executed in 1974, sponsored by UNESCO. This was followed by a series of other conservation projects. The old town was later gazetted as a National Monument in 1983, and since then there has been a Conservation Office with a resident Conservator.
- The Significance of Lamu town
Lamu is the oldest and the best preserved living settlement among the Swahili towns on the East African coast. Its buildings and the applied architecture are the best preserved and carries a long history that represents the development of Swahili building technology. The old town is thus a unique and rare historical living heritage with more than 700 years of continuous settlement. It was once the most important trade centre in East Africa before its decline when other towns such as Zanzibar took over. Since the 19th century, Lamu has been regarded as an important religious centre in East and Central Africa due to the tarika activities introduced by Habib Swaleh, a Sharif descendent of Prophet Mohamed (P.B.A.H). There are many descendants of the Prophet in Lamu and their presence has kept up that tradition, which continue to the present day Lamu in form of annual festivals known as ‘Maulidi’. These festivals are endemic to Lamu and draw the Muslim community from all over East and Central Africa as well as the Gulf. This town is also an Islamic and Swahili education centre in East Africa where researchers and scholars of Islamic religion and Swahili language come to study its rich cultural heritage, which is relatively unchanged. Much of Lamu’s culture is still conservative and is fundamentally based on Islam despite the rest of the country’s rapid cultural change. The island town has adopted very little modern technology due to its isolation, a factor that has contributed to its preservation as a unique heritage with universal value to humanity.
Urban Morphology
Lamu Old Town was founded during 12th century. The town setup and the architecture reflect different stages of developments with Arabic influences of stone buildings within inner city of Lamu, extension areas within the peripherals of the town. Asian/European architectural significant buildings dominates the waterfront as a result of reclamation of land from sea in early 19th century.Lamu’s natural harbour as a distinct value to the settlement and availability of fresh water.
Buildings are mostly constructed of local building material such as quick lime for mortar and finishes, hardwood (terminalia) for structural /slab support and the unique interior design of buildings which are more inward looking.Narrow street formed between clusters of buildings which are of multi functional uses that of communication as well as play and meeting places for the Community.Covered street are built as extra occupancy to either side of parallel formed houses and acts as communication area for women between the houses during the daytime.
Inscription Criteria
1. “ Criterion(ii) The architecture and urban structure Lamu graphically demonstrate the cultural influence that have come together there over several hundred years from Europe, Arabia and India, utilizing traditional Swahili techniques to produce a distinct culture”
2. “ Criterion(iv) The growth and decline of the seaports of East African coast and interaction between the Bantu, Arabs, Persians, Indians and Europeans represents significant cultural and economic phrase in the history the region which finds its most outstanding expression Lamu Old Town”
3. “ Criterion(vi) Its paramount trading role and its attraction for scholars and teachers gave Lamu an important religious function in the region. It continues to be significant centre for education in Islamic and Swahili culture.”
