Takwa Ruins — Manda Island
Swahili (1500–1680 CE)·Swahili (Bajuni)·🇰🇪 Lamu County, Kenya
About
About Takwa Ruins — Manda Island
Takwa Ruins — Manda Island in Lamu County, Kenya is a Swahili (1500–1680 CE) ancient-city attributed to Swahili (Bajuni). Abandoned stone town ghost city with Friday Mosque pillar tomb and walled town. Wilson: Takwa Friday Mosque 1511 inscription, abandoned after Pate wars 1682.
Why it mattersKey Swahili (Bajuni) centre in the Lamu County
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronological seriation
- 02Trade network evidence
Theories
- 01Long-distance Indian Ocean trade
- 02Kushite royal succession
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1500 CE
- Period
- Swahili (1500–1680 CE)
- Culture
- Swahili (Bajuni)
- Purpose
- Abandoned stone town ghost city with Friday Mosque pillar tomb and walled town
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1500 CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Reisner/Kirkman survey
On the ground
Structures & features
2.3100° S · 40.9500° E · 5 m · 4 mapped features
Takwa Ruins — Manda Island — Great Mosque
mosqueFriday mosque with mihrab and pillar tomb
2.3098° S · 40.9501° ETakwa Ruins — Manda Island — Stone House Cluster
houseCoral rag house compound
2.3102° S · 40.9502° ETakwa Ruins — Manda Island — Town Enclosure
enclosureOuter enclosure or creek defence
2.3096° S · 40.9498° ETakwa Ruins — Manda Island — Cistern Cluster
cisternPlastered cisterns
2.3104° S · 40.9499° E