An island steeped in Swahili history

November 16, 2007

The Kenyan island of Lamu is a rare living heritage of Swahili culture and architecture, a melting pot of influences which stretches along the East African coast from Somalia to Mozambique. Founded around 1350 by Arabic traders, Lamu Old Town was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2001. Although tourists have been coming to the area for decades, an economic downturn pushed the island to start an annual cultural festival to promote and preserve its centuries-old traditions. An AFPTV report.