Lamu town and island
The trade winds of the Indian Ocean have been bringing the world to the East African coast for over a thousand years.  Port towns have come into being, flourished and declined.  From the interaction between Africans and foreign traders, Arabs, Persians and Portuguese evolved a civilisation having a character of its own.  The Swahili culture and language was born, Lamu is the heir to this tradition.

Earliest known historical reference to Lamu dates back to the 15th century.  Though the 19th century, under the protectorate of Oman, marks the town’s golden age.  Lamu grew into a busy trade depot, its dhows trading in ivory, mangrove, grains, tortoise shells and slaves. During this period Lamu also became a centre of poetry, politics and religious learning.

Girt by the sea, Lamu much adheres to its old way of life and has retained more of its original character than any of the other swahili settlements.  The island itself is a beautiful place of rolling dunes and endless white sandy beaches, mangnificent and uncluttered.  Sailing dhows still ply the waters and give Lamu its timeless feeling.  The town, as it has for centuries, comes to live with the early morning call for prayers.   The winding streets, too narrow to allow for anythig more than people and donkeys, fill up with locals going about their business.  Men gather on the seafront and market square, boats come and go, bringing the catch of the day.  By mid day streets regain their calm, as people go for prayers and hide indoors from the heat of the day.  Late afternoon, once more, social life flows out from the houses into the streets, this time the sound of Taarab music can be heard and the scent of swahili food welcomes you as foodstalls line the main street.