Lamu Old Town, Kenya

Lamu, Kenya
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lamu_town_on_Lamu_Island_in_Kenya.JPG
Author: Magnus Kjaergaard


Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best preserved Swahili town in East Africa. It is the biggest town on Lamu Island, in the Lamu Archipelago off the southeast coast of Kenya.

The exitence of Lamu is said to have been documented in the chronicles of Admiral Zheng He in 1415. The port of Lamu is believed to have existed for over a thousand years, according to the chronicles of Arab traveller Abu-al-Mahasini.

The modern history of Lamu began with the Portuguese invasion in 1506, followed by Omani domination in around 1813.

Lamu Old Town was inscribed as a World Heritage Site during the 25th session of the World Heritage Committee which was held in Helsinki, Finland, on 11 to 16 December, 2001.

Lamu, Kenya
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lamu_Town.jpg
Author: MysteryBee

World Heritage Site Inscription Details

Location: S 2 17 4 E 40 51 9
Inscription Year: 2001
Type of Site: Cultural
Inscription Criteria: II, IV, VI

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