Background
On Lamu Island, just off the coast of Kenya, a foray into the past is made possible by present-day planning decisions. Traveling the streets on foot or by donkey (no cars are allowed) or sailing the waters in a dhow, you’ll discover a culture that is a dynamic blend of African and Arab heritage. This discovery is no accident, but rather something the Lamu World Heritage Site and Conservation Office set out to preserve and protect.
The island and town of Lamu are heir to a distinctive tradition that is over a thousand years old. Lamu Old Town dates back to at least the 12th century; it is one of the original Swahili city states of East Africa formed by Arab traders. It is also one of the oldest settlements in Kenya and the only coastal settlement to retain its original character.
 The core of the old town’s beauty is its stone buildings, set along streets rarely more than eight feet wide. The close proximity of the stone walls cools the air and blocks the sun’s rays. This city core was the focus of a study by the Kenyan government in 1972. The recommendation was to gazette the old town as a protected area and institute a conservation plan to develop it as both a cultural site and a tourist destination. The town was declared a national monument in 1980 and added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 2001.
Project
Conservationists in Lamu have long been concerned that much traditional knowledge is no longer being handed down from one generation to the next. As a result, traditional methods of both building construction and hand tooled crafts are being lost. The goal of this workshop is to stimulate interest in a variety of traditional trades, from construction to building dhows, creating calligraphy, sewing traditional hats and more. Workshop organizers hope to spark a renewed appreciation for such arts in both the local community and the East African region as a whole.
 Traditional building techniques will be the primary focus of the workshop. There are many historic homes throughout the old town built in the Swahili traditional style - an inward looking, self-contained complex in which a central courtyard is surrounded by narrow rooms. These rooms have ceilings made of boriti mangrove poles and a flat open roof sometimes shaded by thatched makuti shelters. Patterned niches are found in the interiors, and most houses have ornately stylized carved doors. Other traditional materials used in their construction include:
- Coral stones of various size used for foundation
- Hardwood timbers used for structural members such as lintels, beams, suspended floor joists, etc.
- Coral rag and lime mortar used in the massive monolithic walls, and
- Lime plaster and white wash used as wall finishes.
Workshop participants will be helping preserve one of the few remaining historic residences within the old town that is still owned and inhabited by a local family. The building’s ground floor, built in the traditional style, is in poor condition. The floor above was built recently using modern cement sand mortar and coral blocks. In this demonstration project, workshop leaders will highlight how poorly executed upward expansions may cause damage to the original coral rag structures.
This conflict of old and new and loss of tradition is also being experienced in Zanzibar, Mombasa Old Town and Ilha de Mozambique. Therefore, trainees from Lamu, Mombasa, Zanzibar, Mozambique Island, Kilwa, Bagamoyo and the Comoros islands will be joining the workshop and working alongside HCN participants coming from other regions of the world.
The two-week workshop consists of two segments. The first part is a two-day theoretical presentation on the principles of coral rag building and timber window and door restoration. This session will also cover the manufacture, slaking and preparation of lime. The remainder of the workshop will focus on teaching traditional construction and maintenance methods that are being lost due to the adoption of conventional construction techniques. A primary aim of the workshop is to demonstrate that contemporary construction techniques are generally not suitable in the restoration and preservation of historic coral rag buildings, and therefore to encourage people to return to the traditional techniques.
 The long-term goal of the project is to increase the number of traditional building craftsmen in the region; these skilled workers are disappearing at an alarming rate. Our host for this project is the Lamu World Heritage Site and Conservation Office. Other partner organizations include Organization of World Heritage Cities – East Africa Network, UNESCO, Architectural Association of Kenya, Nairobi University, and the director of CHIDA & RISSEA.
Logistics
The workshop will be two weeks in length and participants may register for either one or two weeks. The cost is US$1115 for one week and US$1480 for two weeks, which covers lodging, breakfast and lunch (dinners not included), insurance, fieldtrips, workshop materials and instruction. Transportation to the workshop is not included and is the responsibility of the participant.
A special rate is available for residents of African countries, who must register directly with the Lamu World Heritage Site and Conservation Office. The fee for professionals is US$815 for 1 week; US$1080 for 2 weeks plus transportation. The fee for undergraduate students from African countries is US$615 for 1 week; US$780 for 2 weeks plus transportation. Contact the Lamu Office at lamumuseum[@]hotmail.com or mamwenje[@]yahoo.com for more information and details.
Lodging will be provided at two hotels – Sunsail Hotel and Bahari Kitendetini – and participants may check in on Sunday of the week they are attending. The workshop fee covers lodging from Sunday night through Saturday night. Work hours at the site are generally Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm. A local women’s group will cater two teas and lunch each day at the work site, serving local Swahili delicacies. Bottled water will be provided at the site. Evenings are free for exploring the area’s many beautiful sites, and group fieldtrips are planned for Saturday, February 14 and Saturday, February 21. Additional details will be provided upon registration.
For international visitors traveling from outside East Africa, air travel is the best option to get to Lamu. There are scheduled flights daily from Nairobi, Mombasa and Malindi to Manda Island, followed by a ten-minute dhow ferry ride to Lamu Island. The majority of travelers must have a visa to enter Kenya. Specific requirements are available from the Department of Immigration. It is advisable to get a visa in advance.
Contact a travel clinic at least 3 months before you plan to travel. No immunizations are required by law to enter Kenya if you are traveling directly from Europe or the US, but several are highly recommended: yellow fever, typhoid, hepatitis A, and diphtheria. Be aware that Kenya is home to the chloroquine-resistant strain of malaria as well as several others.
Lamu’s average daytime high in February is 30 degrees C (90 degrees F), with delightfully cooler temperatures at night. Bring clothing that is suitable for the weather that will also be protective while working, including gloves, hard soled shoes with closed toes, and a hat. As Lamu is an Islamic culture, be sensitive in choice of clothing. Insect repellant containing DEET is highly recommended. Please be conscious that safety is an important issue at any work site.
If you need additional information, please contact us at workshops@heritageconservation.net or call +1 303-444-0128.
If you find this project intriguing, but are unable to attend, you can still participate by supporting conservation work at Lamu Island and at other project sites with a gift to HCN. Donations are tax deductible and will be used for a variety of needs – to provide participant scholarships, to purchase materials needed for conservation work, or to provide teaching materials, just to name a few.
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