Lamu: Old Town, Swahili Architecture and Culture

There are several different focal points for a trip to Lamu: its historic townscape, traditional Swahili architecture, the collections at the Lamu Museum and the Maulidi celebrations. If you are looking for hotels in Lamu, these topics can help you organize your travel interests.

Old Town and Historic Houses

Lamu has been continuously inhabited for more than 700 years. Lamu Old Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in December 2001. Stone Town in Lamu has more than 160 historic houses built in the traditional style. Their features include a central courtyard, long, narrow galleries and a flat, open roof. The houses’ design and the town’s history offer different perspectives on historic Lamu.

Swahili Architecture in the Townscape

Along the waterfront, the buildings have arcades and open verandas. Seen from the sea, they give the town a uniform appearance. Most houses in Lamu have intricately carved wooden doors and elaborately decorated carved plaster niches inside. Traditional buildings are also adorned with painted ceilings, large niches known as madaka, small niches known as zidaka, and Chinese porcelain. Some historic houses in Stone Town have flat roofs shaded by structures made from woven palm fronds. The well-preserved buildings reflect the development of Swahili building techniques, which include coral stone, lime and mangrove poles.

The Lamu Museum

The Lamu Museum is housed in a Grade 1-listed Stone-Veranda building constructed in the early 20th century. The first floor contains ethnographic collections from the Swahili, Boni, Sanye, Pokomo and Orma communities. The Pate Ivory Siwa is also on display there. The Maulidi and maritime galleries are also on the first floor. The two galleries focus on different themes: one is dedicated to Maulidi, the other to maritime history.

Maulidi and Festival Dates

The Maulid celebrations in Lamu culminate in a three-day festival organized by religious leaders and the National Museum of Kenya. The festival includes recitations of praise poetry, music, dancing, calligraphy and art exhibitions. The calendar dates may vary. So if you want to plan your trip around the festival, check the dates in advance.

Getting Around and Getting There

The winding streets of Lamu are best explored on foot and are no more than eight feet wide. There are no motorized vehicles in Lamu; all transport is by handcart and donkey. A dhow ferry carries arriving passengers to Lamu Town or Shela. Check current connections before your trip.

Takwa Nearby

The ruins of Takwa are on Manda Island, near Lamu. They are the remains of an important Swahili trading town from the 15th and 16th centuries, which was abandoned in the 17th century. The boat trip from Lamu Town takes 30 minutes. Takwa is an option for an occasional visit; confirm that it is currently open to visitors before making the trip. Historically, the site complements Lamu’s buildings and collections with the remains of an earlier trading town.

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