Mkama Ndume Explained

Mkama Ndume Palace Ruins
Map Type:Tanzania
Relief:yes
Location:Chake Chake District,
Pemba South Region,
Coordinates:-5.2978°N 39.808°W
Type:Settlement
Material:Coral rag
Built:15th century CE
Abandoned:16th century CE
Cultures:Swahili
Architectural Styles:Swahili & Islamic
Condition:Endangered
Ownership:Tanzanian Government
Management:Antiquities Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism [1]
Designation1:NHST
Designation1 Offname:Mkama Ndume Historic Site
Designation1 Type:Cultural

Mkama Ndume Ruins (Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Mkama Ndume in Swahili) was a medieval Swahili settlement palace ruins located in Chake Chake District of Pemba South Region that was abandoned in the 16th Century prior to Portuguese arrival and is known for its fortification.[2] The site is located east of the town of Chake-Chake .[3] The settlement was ruled by a leader named Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman, who was known for his cruelty towards his subjects thus earned his infamous nickname Mkama Ndume meaning milker of men in old Swahili. The settlement ruins bear this nickname.[4] [5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Antiquities Division. 21 Jul 2022.
  2. Web site: Pemba Island Silk Roads Programme. 2022-01-05. en.unesco.org.
  3. James de Vere Allen. “Swahili Culture and the Nature of East Coast Settlement.” The International Journal of African Historical Studies, vol. 14, no. 2, Boston University African Studies Center, 1981, pp. 306–34, https://doi.org/10.2307/218047.
  4. Web site: Mkame Ndume Ruins Chake Chake, Tanzania Attractions. 2022-01-05. Lonely Planet. en.
  5. Connah, Graham. Journal of Field Archaeology, vol. 29, no. 3/4, [Maney Publishing, Trustees of Boston University], 2002, pp. 477–79, https://doi.org/10.2307/3250907.