Manda Island
Geography | |
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Archipelago | Lamu Archipelago |
Administration | |
Kenya |
Manda is an island of the Lamu Archipelago of Kenya, known for the prosperous 9th century ports of Takwa and Manda town. The island is now linked by ferry to Lamu and is home to Manda Airport, while Manda Toto island lies to its west. The island is separated from the mainland by the narrow Mkanda channel.
Both Manda town and Takwa were probably abandoned due to a lack of water in the first half of the 19th century. In the 1960s the Kenya Department of Agriculture recommended building several concrete catchments called jabias to capture rain water on the island. Two jabias were built and many families moved onto the island, farming maize, cassava, simsim and cotton.[1]
Manda town
History
The Manda town ruins (on the Northwest coast of Manda Island), were first explored by the archaeologist
The large scale excavations in 1966, 1970, and 1978 revealed a prosperity unrivaled in East Africa for the period. Signs of this prosperity include
In the July 2013 issue of Archeology it was reported that a Chinese "Yongle Tongbao" cash coin was found on Manda Island, illustrating the reach of Chinese explorers and traders. The coin was issued during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, Zhu Di which lasted until 1424.
At its peak, the town covered some 40 acres (160,000 m2) and its population is estimated to have been about 3,500.[5] Manda prospered until the 13th century when it began to decline.
Ancient DNA analysis has been completed for 3 buried Manda Island individuals in order to determine the proportions of "African-like, Persian-like, and Indian-like" DNA sequences.
Introduction of foreign DNA was estimated to have occurred between 795-1085 AD. However, the authors indicate that this likely occurred over "multiple generations" and that mixture of Eurasian and African populations have continually occurred since.[6]
Takwa
The Takwa Ruins was a town in the period 1500-1700, and it was designated a Kenyan National Monument in 1982.
Manda Airport
Manda Airport is the only civilian airport in the Lamu Archipelago.
See also
Notes
References
- ISBN 0-500-97006-8
- Martin, Chryssee MacCasler Perry and Esmond Bradley Martin: Quest for the Past. An historical guide to the Lamu Archipelago. 1973.
Further reading
- Wilson, Thomas H.: Takwa: An Ancient Swahili Settlement of the Lamu Archipelago. Kenya Museum Society.