Mnarani Ruins

Mnarani Ruins
Image credit to Daniel Masake Kitui (Commons 4.0)
Type: Archeological site
Settlement: 14th Century
Country:
Kenya
The Mnarani Ruins is an archaeological site located on the coast of Kenya, near Kilifi. The site is famous for the large number of Arabic inscriptions found in the ruins masonry. The ruins still preserve a Mihrab, additionally there is a small mosque hidden among the baobabs.[1] In addition, the ruins comprise several mounds of what were once residential buildings. The settlement covered about 16 hectares of land, but was abandoned in the 17th century. The site is now covered with autochthonous medicinal trees. One of the risks to the ruins is that the site is prone to flooding due to heavy rains and a deficient drainage system. Part of the walls of the ruins have visible cracks in addition to the fact that another factor that can damage the ruins is the high temperatures.[2] 

The ruins were part of a Swahili city string on the African coast.[3] The mosque and tombs were built between 1475 and 1500.[4] According to the ruins' curator, William Tsaka, the original mosque was built around 1475, while the second one around 1500. In addition, hundreds of people went to the mosque to perform rituals, and they believed that the site was sacred, so they also sought religious intervention.[5] According to the 1995 East African Handbook by Michael Hodd, Mnarani was the oldest slave port on the Kenyan coast.[6] The city was destroyed by Oromo tribes coming from southern Somalia. Among the ruins, there are several tomb pillars and the main mosque with fragmentary carvings of the Quran.[7] One of the octagonal-shaped pillars of the ruins is over 30 feet high.[8] The ruins were excavated in the 1950s.[9] The site contains inscriptions in the Persian language, in which it is theorized that the first settlers were Persians coming from Oman. One tomb has the name of Shaykh Isa Ibn Shayah Nahafah written in ancient Arabic. In 1950, the British archaeologist James Kirkman excavated the mosque, where he found 12 lamps.[5]

References

  1. Richard, Trillo (2010-05-03) "The Rough Guide to Kenya" p. 296 - Published by Rough Guides UK; ISBN: 1848367015

  2. Chemeli, Angelah ; Njoroge, Joseph; Agufana, Peace (2021-08-11) "Climate Change and Immovable Cultural Heritage in Kenya: Impact and Response Strategies" p. 10 - DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-22759-3_91-1; ISBN: 978-3-030-22759-3

  3. Vachon, Elise (1999-11-25) "Kenya Guide, 2nd Edition" p. 296 - Published by Open Road Publishing; ISBN: 1892975157

  4. "East Africa Handbook: With Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia" (2007) p. 206 - Published by Kenya Postel Directories

  5. Lwanga, Charles (2019-04-24) "Mnarani Ruins: Where baobab, mosques attract tourists" - Daily Nation

  6. Hodd, Michael (1995) "East African Handbook: With Mauritius, Madagascar and Seychelles" p. 128 - Published by Footprint; ISBN: 0844289833

  7. Shales, Melissa (1994) "Passport's Illustrated Travel Guide to Kenya, from Thomas Cook" p. 107 - Published by Passport Books; ISBN: 0844290688

  8. Gensheimer, Thomas (2012) "Research Notes: Monumental Tomb Architecture of the Medieval Swahili Coast" p. 109 - Published by University of Minnesota; DOI:10.5749/buildland.19.1.0107

  9. Hodd, Michael (1998) "East Africa Handbook: With Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia" p. 174 - Published by Footprint; ISBN: 0844249785

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