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Travel
the car-less streets of Lamu on foot or by donkey or sail the island’s
waters in a dhow and discover a culture that is a dynamic blend of
African and Arab heritage. This discovery is no accident, but rather
something the Lamu World Heritage Site and Conservation Office set out to preserve and protect.
The island and town of Lamu are heir to a
distinctive tradition that is over a thousand years old. Lamu Old Town
dates back to at least the 12th century; it is one of the original
Swahili city states of East Africa formed by Arab traders. It is also
one of the oldest settlements in Kenya and the only coastal settlement
to retain its original character.
The core of the old town’s beauty is its stone
buildings, set along streets rarely more than eight feet wide. The
close proximity of the stone walls cools the air and blocks the sun’s
rays. This city core was the focus of a study by the Kenyan government
in 1972. The recommendation was to gazette the old town as a protected
area and institute a conservation plan to develop it as both a cultural
site and a tourist destination. The town was declared a national
monument in 1980 and added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 2001.
Conservationists
in Lamu have long been concerned that much traditional knowledge is no
longer being handed down from one generation to the next. As a result,
traditional methods of both building construction and hand tooled
crafts are being lost. The goal of this workshop is to stimulate
interest in a variety of traditional trades – from construction to
building dhows, creating calligraphy, and sewing traditional hats – and
to increase the number of traditional building craftsmen in the region,
which are disappearing at an alarming rate. Workshop organizers hope to
spark a renewed appreciation for traditional arts in both the local
community and the East African region as a whole in order to support
the development of a sustainable economy through sensitive heritage
tourism.
Succeeding at this goal may be the key to preserving
Lamu’s cultural heritage for many more generations to enjoy. With the
need to stimulate the economy pushing decision making, there is the
possibility that Lamu will be the site of a new port, which could
completely overwhelm the World Heritage Site. With a large response
from volunteer participants bringing visible, positive results to the
workshop, preservationists can demonstrate an alternative means of
creating a sustainable economy for the island.
Traditional building techniques will be the primary
focus of the workshop. There are many historic homes throughout the old
town built in the Swahili traditional style - an inward looking,
self-contained complex in which a central courtyard is surrounded by
narrow rooms. These rooms have ceilings made of boriti mangrove poles
and a flat open roof sometimes shaded by thatched makuti shelters.
Patterned niches are found in the interiors, and most houses have
ornately stylized carved doors. Other traditional materials used in
their construction include:
- Coral stones of various sizes used for foundations
- Hardwood timbers used for structural members such as lintels, beams, suspended floor joists, etc.
- Coral rag and lime mortar used in the massive monolithic walls, and
- Lime plaster and white wash used as wall finishes
Workshop participants will be helping
preserve one of the few remaining historic residences within the old
town that is still owned and inhabited by a local family. The
building’s ground floor, built in the traditional style, is in poor
condition. The floor above was built recently using modern cement sand
mortar and coral blocks. In this demonstration project, workshop
leaders will highlight how poorly executed upward expansions may cause
damage to the original coral rag structures.
The
two-week workshop consists of two segments. The first part is a two-day
theoretical presentation on the principles of coral rag building and
timber window and door restoration. This session will also cover the
manufacture, slaking and preparation of lime. The remainder of the
workshop will focus on teaching traditional construction and
maintenance methods that are being lost due to the adoption of
conventional construction techniques. A primary aim of the workshop is
to demonstrate that contemporary construction techniques are generally
not suitable in the restoration and preservation of historic coral rag
buildings, and therefore to encourage people to return to the
traditional techniques.
There will practical exercises every day, with a
particular emphasis on hands-on work the second week. During the
second week, working closely with Mr. Kalandar, focus will
be on restoration of plaster, plaster mortiffs, repair of wooden
fixtures, lime wash, linseed treatment and timber beam decoration.
During the second week, there is a field
trip to the neighboring Matondoni village where you will be treated to
dhow building, basketry, and traditional dances.
Our host for this project is the Lamu
World Heritage Site and Conservation Office. Other partner
organizations include Organization of World Heritage Cities – East
Africa Network, UNESCO, Architectural Association of Kenya, Nairobi University, and the director of CHIDA & RISSEA.
The
workshop will be two weeks in length and participants may register for
either one or two weeks. The cost is US$1620 for one week and US$620
for the second week, which covers lodging, meals, insurance,
fieldtrips, workshop materials and instruction. Transportation to the
workshop is not included and is the responsibility of the participant.
A special rate is available for residents of African
countries, who must register directly with the Lamu World Heritage Site
and Conservation Office. The fee for professionals is US$840 for 1
week, plus an additional US$300 for the second week. Transportation is
not included. The fee for undergraduate students from African countries
is US$640 for 1 week, plus an additional US$200 for the second week.
Transportation not included. Contact the Lamu Office at
lamumuseum[@]hotmail.com or mamwenje[@]yahoo.com for more information
and details.
Lodging will be provided at two hotels –
Sunsail Hotel and Bahari Kitendetini – and participants may check in on
Sunday of the week they are attending. The workshop fee covers lodging
from Sunday night through Saturday night. Work hours at the site are
generally Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. A local women’s group
will cater two teas and lunch each day at the work site, serving local
Swahili delicacies. Bottled water will be provided at the site.
Evenings are free for exploring the area’s many beautiful sites, and
group fieldtrips are planned for the weekend.
For
international visitors traveling from outside East Africa, air travel
is the best option to get to Lamu. All flights will go through Nairobi,
and depending on your arrival time, a night in Nairobi may be required.
If so, you will be met at the airport and given a ride to a hotel by
project personnel. If you would like assistance with travel
arrangements, contact Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters, AiP’s partnering travel agency.
There are scheduled flights daily from Nairobi,
Mombasa and Malindi to Manda Island, followed by a ten-minute dhow
ferry ride to Lamu Island. Participants will be met at the plane on
Manda Island and accompanied on the dhow ride to the hotel. The
majority of travelers must have a visa to enter Kenya. Specific
requirements are available from the Department of Immigration. It is advisable to get a visa well in advance.
Contact
a travel clinic at least 3 months before you plan to travel. No
immunizations are required by law to enter Kenya if you are traveling
directly from Europe or the US, but several are highly recommended:
yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A, and diphtheria. Be aware that Kenya
is home to the chloroquine-resistant strain of malaria as well as
several others.
Lamu’s
average daytime high in late November is 28 degrees C (82 degrees F),
with delightfully cooler temperatures at night. Bring clothing that is
suitable for the weather that will also be protective while working,
including gloves, hard soled shoes with closed toes, and a hat. As Lamu
is an Islamic culture, be sensitive in choice of clothing. Insect
repellant containing DEET is highly recommended. Please be conscious
that safety is an important issue at any work site.
Saturday
Arrive in Nairobi; project personnel meet at airport and provide
transportation to hotel if schedule necessitates. Lodging Saturday
night is not included in the workshop fee.
Sunday
Fly to Manda Island; project personnel will meet at the plane and accompany to hotel..
Monday through Friday
Work 9-5, with lunch provided at the work site.
Walking tours scheduled during week.
Saturday-Sunday
Two-day fieldtrip .
Those attending for only one week may join the weekend fieldtrip.
Monday through Friday
Work 9-5, with lunch provided at the work site.
Walking tours scheduled during week.
Saturday
Departure.
You may wish to extend your stay in Lamu to enjoy the Lamu Cultural Festival,
a three-day Swahili cultural festival that combines traditional dances,
indoor and outdoor cultural activities and an exhibition of Lamu's rich
material culture, which is scheduled for November 27-30.
If you have additional questions or would like to discuss this project with AiP staff, please contact us at workshops@adventuresinpreservation.org or call +1 303-444-0128.
Register Now Online
Joining
AiP's workshop in Lamu is a great way to help preserve this World
Heritage Site. If you find this project intriguing, but are unable to
attend, you can still make an impact by supporting conservation work in
Lamu Old Town with a tax-deductible donation to AiP. Your donation will
go directly to workshop planning, scholarships and materials.
If you would prefer to mail in a gift, please use our donation form.
