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16-678: The park covers an area with approximately 50 islands and coral reefs in the Lamu Archipelago . It borders the Boni and Dodori National Reserves . The Coast is humid with mean annual temperatures ranging from 22 to 34 °C. Rainfall is about 500 mm/year. It is located at an altitude of 30 meters above MSL. The outer islands of the Reserve host many seabirds. Species nesting here include roseate tern, sooty gull, white-cheeked tern, bridled tern and brown node. This Coast Province location article

32-414: A distinct 'Lamu style', characterised by the widespread adoption of the trilobal arch and the use of stucco ornamentation. 2°06′12″S 41°01′14″E  /  2.10333°S 41.02056°E  / -2.10333; 41.02056 This Coast Province location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Coast Province The Coast Province ( Swahili : Mkoa wa Pwani )

48-417: A pronounced use of stucco for decoration and the adoption of the trilobal arch. The trilobal arch, a more elaborate design than the broken arch used previously, emerged in the 17th century under the influence of Indian traders. By the late 18th century this form had evolved into a polylobal design. The construction techniques for the mihrab arches involved ashlar blocks of coral bound with mortar, covered with

64-462: A square plan, a small mihrab decorated with Indian-style volutes and blind arcades, and two small pillars flanking the mihrab projection. In conclusion, the 18th and 19th centuries witnessed a dynamic change in the design of mihrabs within the mosques of the Lamu archipelago. The emergence of Pate, changing political landscapes and external influences from India and Oman all contributed to the development of

80-493: A thick layer of stucco, and topped with pointed arches with a central boss. Decoration played an important role in the new style. The tympanums, the recessed areas above the arch, continued the tradition of using inlaid ceramics as seen in Pate. However, there was a change in the material used for the central boss, from coral to stucco. The frame of the mihrab itself was decorated with stucco panels with geometric designs. The interior of

96-546: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This Africa protected areas related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Lamu Archipelago The Lamu Archipelago is located in the Indian Ocean close to the northern coast of Kenya , to which it belongs. The islands lie between the towns of Lamu and Kiunga , near the Coast Province . It is a part of Lamu District . The largest of

112-557: Is also evident in this architectural development. The flowering of this new style finds parallels in Yemeni mosques, particularly in Surat, where mihrabs with finely carved trilobal arches suggest a growing economic relationship with India. The Ndia Kuu Mosque in Mombasa, excavated in 1985, reinforces this external influence. This 17th century mosque, probably used by Indian and Pakistani mercenaries, had

128-696: The Chinese during the era of the Yongle Emperor and the expeditions of Zheng He . Watamu is a small fishing community and contains East Africa's first marine national park, the Watamu Marine National Park . The Coast Provinces had a population of 3,325,307 in 2009. The climate is designated as Aw in the Köppen climate classification system. In 1999, the Mombasa Republican Council

144-461: The artistic influences of various trading partners. This is particularly evident in the design of the mihrab, the prayer niche of symbolic importance within a mosque. The 18th and 19th centuries witnessed a period of significant change on the Swahili coast, particularly in the Lamu archipelago. The rise of Pate as a major political force, challenging Portuguese control of Mombasa, is thought to have been

160-417: The catalyst for a distinct "new Swahili mihrab" style. This essay examines the development of this unique style, exploring its key features, the influences that shaped it, and prominent examples. The period was marked by a surge in mosque construction, with 22 mosques built in Lamu town and 12 in Pate between 1750 and 1820. A new style of mihrab (prayer niche) was developed, characterised by two key elements:

176-508: The island and married local women. This has been proven recently by archaeological work on the island that has resulted in the finding of evidence to suggest this connection. Further DNA testing done on some residents show that they indeed have Chinese ancestors. For centuries, the Swahili coast of East Africa has been a cultural crossroads. The mosques, central to the religious life of the region, bear witness to this rich heritage. Their architecture reflects not only Islamic traditions but also

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192-912: The islands are Pate Island , Manda Island and Lamu Island . Smaller islands include Kiwayu , which lies in the Kiunga Marine National Reserve , and Manda Toto . Today the largest town in the archipelago is Lamu Town , on Lamu Island . The town is on the World Heritage List . The archipelago contains several archaeological/historical sites of great significance, such as Takwa and Manda Town (both on Manda Island ) and Shanga (on Pate Island ). Some have been partially excavated in later years, shedding important new light on Swahili history and culture. There are some other accounts that mention Chinese ships of Zheng He 's fleet sinking near Lamu Island in Kenya in 1415. Survivors settled on

208-401: The mihrab apse was decorated with triangular plaster mouldings, while the semi-dome vault had a fluted surface. Examples of this style include a Lamu mihrab with an inscription dated 1753, and mihrabs at Simambaya and Utondwe (Tanzania) dated 1796 and 1782 respectively. Interestingly, Omani mosques built during this period showed a strong resemblance to the Swahili models, with bays parallel to

224-519: The qibla wall and a projecting mihrab. The Omani Simambaya Mosque, built between 1725 and 1765, is an example of this similarity. A later example, the Swahili Wa Deule mosque at Shela (Lamu), built in 1848 according to an inscription in the mihrab, demonstrates the continued use of the trilobal arch. This particular mihrab was framed by semicircular mouldings and decorated with panels of floral and geometric motifs. The influence of external factors

240-399: The south. Some of the coastal population was located in resort and beach settlements such as Kiongwe and Kipini . Diani Beach was one of the province's major tourist centres, with palm trees and white sandy beaches like Mombasa. Malindi is where Vasco da Gama picked up his pilot to navigate with the monsoon winds to India; Mambrui appears to be the site where contact occurred with

256-450: Was one of Kenya 's eight provinces . It covered the entire country's coastline on the Indian Ocean . Its capital city was Mombasa . It was inhabited by the Mijikenda and Swahili peoples, among others. The province covered an area of 79,686.1 km . Some of the province's important towns included Kilifi , Malindi , Watamu and Lamu in the north, and Mwandimu and Magunda in

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