The Lamu Museum is one of the five thematic museums located in Lamu old town within the Lamu Island, in the Northern Coast archipelago of Lamu. The old town of Lamu – a world heritage site- also hosts the Lamu Fort, the German post office, Takwa ruins, the Swahili house and the Mwana Arafa Jambeni.
I was fortunate enough to visit the Lamu Museum and the Takwa ruins. I would have visited the Fort but it so happened that it was already closed by the time we left the museum. Charges for locals visiting the museum is ksh100 and once you purchase the ticket it also gives you access to the Lamu fort.
Established in the 60’s, the museum consists of a large collection of authentic Swahili ethnographic collections.
Some of the collected artefacts include furniture, manuscripts, Jewellery, maritime equipment, items of clothing, some archeological findings and battle tools.
What started as an interesting tour at the ground floor however
quickly turned into a disappointment as the tour progressed to the first floor.
At the ground floor there is a wide array of furniture, dhows, cooking equipment and other Swahili collections. The lighting is fair, the Lamu map is enchanting but you are left yearning for more while hoping the next floor will do that for you.
Below are some of the material that can be found on the ground floor.
Evidence of influence from the Arab culture
Tea was a huge part of the Swahili culture. To date if you order for tea in any of their eateries, it will come fully spiced.
A grinding mortar as used back in the day
Of guns, machetes and handcuffs
The life of a fisherman captured in photos
A typical Swahili bath tub. On top of it is a fetching bowl made of coconut husks that was used when having a bath
What is Swahili culture without ornaments of beauty?
Someone once told me that our ancestors didn’t love themselves and with images like these I can’t help but wonder at times. I mean, what kind of self inducing torture is this?
Now, I want to explain why I found the museum abit disappointing – a view that was shared with the whole group I was with.
The ground floor has some interesting pieces of culture, but the first floor is where extra detail was put into account. First of all the first floor is very well lit, very colourful (enchanting even) and talks about a whole lot of culture, but not of the Lamu indigenous people. Rather of the Oman people.
A people that at one point colonised the local. The literature goes on and on about how the Oman fought the Portuguese and what not, but you can’t help but wonder, where were the locals during all of this? What role did they play?
If indeed we are to talk so much about the Omans, why is there no mention of the slavery that went on? I believe the slave trade was a huge part of why the Portuguese and the arabs were fighting in the East African coast. Which is why it’s puzzling that there is not a single mention of it in the Lamu Museum.
Rather, the first floor low key glorifies the Oman empire, complete with images of their sultan dynasty and what have you.
Take a look at some of the material in the Oman section of “history”. I quote the word history because the room is full of the modern day rulers, modern day attires and what not.
So colourful, right?
More oman culture
Visual samples of Oman Castles
An Oman sailing boat
At the end of the day, as gen z famously love to say, ‘it is what it is.”
Also, whatever the case, the Lamu Museum is definitely a must visit once you are at the Lamu old town. Lamu is a beautiful county and should be at the top 3 vacation destinations for any traveller.
