Lamu Town 14

Flat roofs of Shela village bringing Swahili architecture into focus.

Lamu Town is the oldest inhabited town in Kenya and is one of the earliest established towns on the coast of Eastern Africa. It is part of the Lamu Archipelago which consists of three 3 main islands: Lamu, Manda and the largest, Pate. Lamu Town was established as a trading center, like many other stowntowns along the 3000 km Eastern African coast and has been influenced historically by numerous cultures. Cultural blending is the fiber contemporary Lamu life is made of. The Swahili people have emerged from this extended period of trading and cultural blending - a unique cultural community.