History of Lamu
About Lamu Way Back When
Brief History of Lamu County
It is almost certain that there were settlements in Lamu of either Hamyarites or Phoenicians pre-7th century. Still, the earliest recorded settlers in Lamu, or rather the notable ubiquitous influence, came from the Arabian Peninsula, through the Middle East and Arab trade circa 8th century onward. Here, like at Kismayu 280 km further north, the newfangled beckon of influence from 694 was backed by Abdul Malik bin Muriani, a blue-blood member of the earliest generation of born Muslims and 5th Umayyad caliph who ruled from April 685 till his death in 694.
By other accounts Makdishu (Mogadishu) has the reputation of being the first settlement along the Swahili coast, having been built, according to lore, in 908. Followed Kilwa about A.D. 975, and one or two hundred years later Mombasa, Kilifi, Malindi, and outposts in Lamu Archipelago – Pate, Siyu, Faza, and Lamu itself. This version, too, ascribes the founding of the coast towns to Arabs. The blending of the two names is not surprising if one considers the parallel between the two nations and how often the Arabs were in Persia or the Persians in Arabia.
It is the early Arabs who called the local people “Swahili”, meaning people of the coast, and the gradual intermarriage of the two communities and their lifestyles fashioned an enduring native culture. Lamu’s strategic position between Kismayu in the north and Zambezi River in the south, in the bosom of deep inlets along its coast, enclosing small islands with protected positions enjoying good rainfall and fringed by coral reefs, flanked for most of the length with thick mangrove forests, bolstered its early-days development and engendered numerous settlements.
The peopling of Lamu, backwater of Kenya’s coast, and the islands facing it have since this distant generation been Swahili speaking Muslims. Lamu Archipelago occupied a fairly prominent place in the trade of the Indian Ocean since the early centuries of our era, when it was known to the Greeks by the name of Azania. It is shown on the ancient 12th century map of Al-Idrisi. Local chiefs ruled under the overall authority of the ruler of the south Arabian kingdom of Himyar. The trade of the Lamu Archipelago seems to have transferred from the Gulf of Aden to Oman, whose ship-owners employed navigators from the port of Siraf in southern Iran.
Lamu’s towns were famed for ivory that was exported by the merchants to the Muslim countries. It would appear that these old towns were also visited by the Chinese. Ancient coins dating between A.D. 713 and 1163 have been found at Kilwa and Mogadishu, and a Chinese fleet is said to have explored the latter in 1430. The earliest known town about Lamu Archipelago is that of the 9th century Manda, which was excavated by Neville Chittick in 1966. Chittick’s view is that it was the creation of colonizers from overseas. This, if correct, confirms the above as is a note by Al-Mas’udi (896–956) to Muslim immigrants to Lamu in the 8th century.
By the 11th century, Manda, alongside Lamu, Pate and Shanga, was a prospering trading settlement associated with long distance trade along the Swahili coast and a central-base between Kismayu and Zambezi River. From the late 15th century Lamu Island grew as a borough trading slaves with the Middle East. One of the earliest written versions of this was made by the Arab traveller Abu-al-Mahasini, in 1441. This was circa half a century before arrival of the Portuguese in East Africa.
In the late 15th century Lamu, and the towns along the Swahili Coast, was invaded by the seafaring Portuguese, who enjoyed a monopoly on shipping in the region and a doyen of trade. During the Portuguese era (1498 to 1696) Lamu Archipelago was one of the most rebellious boroughs, and the Portuguese had to undertake a punitive expedition in 1636-37 to suppress Lamu, Faza, Pate and Manda Islands. From the mid-17th century Portugal succeeded in asserting its ascendency over a large stretch of the Swahili coast. Portuguese garrisons occupied several outposts.
In Lamu the Portuguese sustained a customs house in Pate. During the second half of this century Portugal’s dominance was declining in the wake of stout opposition from the Dutch and English with firm commercial entities. Swahili dissent against the Portuguese along the Kenyan coast was steered by Pate, aided by the Omani – vehemently rising against the Portuguese on five different occasions in the 17th century. Between 1660 and 1690 there was much warfare and burning of towns after the usual fashion, and the outposts of the Lamu Archipelago changed hands several times. Still, the advantage remained with the Arabs, who, on March 15th, 1696, entered Kilindini Harbour and applied themselves to the siege of Mombasa.
And this lasted thirty-three months. 2500 natives, including the King of Faza, took refuge in Fort Jesus, while the Arabs occupied the town, Makupa, the chapel of Nossa Senhora das Merces and Fort St. Joseph. They were able to prevent four Portuguese ships which arrived on Christmas Day from entering the harbour at Mombasa. In January the already sore plight of the besieged was aggravated by an outbreak of plague. Thus, Portugal’s rule came to an end with the capture of Fort Jesus. The Omani Arab’s political influence remained effective through the Mazrui, a clan of Omani’s who established themselves as hereditary rulers of Mombasa.
Under their rule Mombasa dominated most of the towns along the coast till the end of the 18th century. In 1746, with the fall of the Ya’rubi reign in Oman, the Mazrui had declared their independence from Oman. In the following decades Mombasa grew in strength and signed a treaty of alliance with its old time rival, Pate. The alliance came to a breaking point in 1812 after joint forces of Mombasa and Pate lost a key battle against Lamu in the Battle of Shela. Lamu, fearful of similar acts of aggression, appealed to Oman for protection. This gave Oman’s new leader, Seyyid Said, Sultan of Muscat, a chance for direct intervention and a base which he consolidated by sacking Mazrui rule in Pate and then in Mombasa.
In short order, mid-19th century, Lamu came under the sway of the Sultan. It continued to rival Mombasa until the late 19th century as the main hub for gold, spices and slaves. At the same time, Germany claimed Witu in 1885 and Lamu became a sphere of German influence for about twelve years, before the British Protectorate had been established. The 1884-85 Berlin Conferences sought to settle the territory disputes in East Africa, with mixed success. After Jubaland, the most neglected area was Tana River, which had only three administrative officers.
The Sub-Commissioner, with an assistant, at Lamu, and a collector at Kipini, who was in charge of the entire Tana River. Even with the cessation of territory, the number of Germans compared with British firms in Mombasa, Nairobi, and Lamu remained high; and the presence of some of them may be explained as a relic of the times before the present German sphere was marked out. During the colonial era, Lamu archipelago remained peaceful as unrests flared many parts of Kenya.
Lamu County is one of Kenya’s most unique and enchanting regions, known for its rich Swahili culture, pristine beaches, and UNESCO-listed heritage. Located on the northern coast of Kenya, it consists of a group of islands (Lamu, Manda, Pate, and Kiwayu) and a stretch of mainland coastline. Lamu Island in particular is more than just a destination—it’s a living piece of Swahili history and coastal paradise.
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A Guide to Lamu County
A Summa Digest of Lamu
About Lamu Way Back When
70 Destinations in Lamu County , arranged as one would visit these - west, south, north then west - with aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart:
Delta Dunes Lodge , Lake Moa , Old Town Witu , Witu Forest Reserve , Pangani Swamp, Lake Kiboko , Amu Ranch , Lake Amu, Kipini Conservancy , Lake Kenyatta , Amu Baharini Beach, Kizuke Beach , Lamu (Manda) Port , Red Pepper House , Lamu Island , Matondoni Dau Workshop , Matondoni Ruins , Tusitiri Dhow , Kipungani Ruins , Kizingoni Beach , Old Town Lamu, Lamu World Heritage Sector , Lamu Museum , The Swahili House Museum , German Post Office Museum , Lamu Fort , Lamu Market , Masjid Khoja Ithnasheri , Masjid Riyadha , House of Habib Swaleh , The Mosque College Lamu , Lamu Catholic Church , Tamarind Tree Cafe , Donkey Sanctuary , The Floating Bar , Boat Rides , MaraRaha , Kijani Hotel , Shela Village , Friday Masjid , Forodhani House , Peponi Hotel , Shela Beach , Bahari Restaurant , Fort at Shela , Ras Kitau , Diamond Village , The Maljis , Takwa Ruins , Manda Island , Manda Lodge , Manda Toto , Manda Coral Quarry , Nabahani Ruins , Pate Island , Shanga Ruins , Siyu Fort , Shindamweh, Atu Ruins , Chundwa Ruins , Faza Village , Lamu Monuments , Mangrove Forests , Dodori National Reserve , Kiunga Marine N. Reserve , Kiwayu Island , Ashuwei , Boni Forest National Reserve , Ishakani Ruins , Lamu Festivals
Know More About Lamu County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments
What’s The Air Like In Lamu?
Lamu County lies along the Equatorial Climate System, enjoying two rainy seasons and temperatures between 24°C and 30°C year round – Hottest in December & April
What’s The Lay Of The Land In C.05?
Lamu is composed of a coastal zone of 65 islands, vast creeks, bays, sand bars and mangrove. Among these, Lamu Island, hosting Lamu Town, is the bussiest. The mainland is flat to undulating.
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