KILWA
KISIWANI RUINS
INFORMATION
GUIDE
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HISTORY -
Kilwa
Kisiwani (literally means ‘isle of the fishes’) is a medieval archeological
site, located in present day Tanzania on the eastern coast of Africa, 300
kilometers south of Dar es Salaam. It is situated 3 kilometers off the mainland
and represents the sui generis historical centre of the medieval Kilwa
Sultanate, which were at its very best in the 13th – 15th
centuries, when it was the most important Swahili trading community in the East.
In 1955, James Kirkman and Neville Chittick from the British institute begin
exploring the area of Kilwa.
In
the 8th century, it became the dominant settlement on the Swahili
coast, covering an area of one square kilometer. The most important factor
which influenced its growth and development were the trade connections with the
Arab, Hindu and Chinese world. Its origins are predominantly African, though
there are Islamic components incorporated due to interchanging cultures.
According to Kilwa Chronicle, the city started to thrive during Shirazi
dynasty. Kilwa was famous for exporting ivory, beads, coconut oil, porcelain,
spices, aromatic gums, tortoise shell, gold and slaves. The splendor of the
city of Kilwa can also be seen in the fact that it had its own coins for
roughly 500 years. It was almost destroyed in 1502, when the Portuguese
explorer Vasco de Gama tried to retake commercial and maritime dominance in the
Indian Ocean.
Archeologists
have found ceramic artifacts – kitchen wares - in Kilwa Ruins, as well as
ceramic vessels which were imported from China and the Arabian Peninsula.
From
2004, Kilwa Kisiwani belongs to the UNESCO’s List of World Heritage in Danger,
due to rapid crumbling of the archeological heritage which is caused by the
rain, erosion and vegetation. For instance, “Palace of the Queens” - the
eastern section of Kilwa Kisiwani - is gradually disappearing. Since 2008,
Kilwa is placed on Watch List of 100 Most Endangered Sites.
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SIGHT-SEEING –
PALACE
OF HUSUNI KUBWA
The
project of conservation is funded by the French and the Japanese governments
and the main object of this endowment is the preservation and restoration of
island’s treasures, which is considered the best example of Swahili
architecture on the eastern African coast. Husuni Kubwa, or the “Great Fort” in
English, is a 14th century sultan’s palace erected by Sultan
al-Hasan ibn Sulaiman in 1310. It is composed by three parts: the first is used
for commerce, the second is used as a place to live in, and the third leads down
a mosque. Despite it wasn’t abandoned until the mid 19th century, it
had not been used since the 14th century.
GREAT
MOSQUE
This
mosque probably dates from 10th century, though its two main stages
were founded in the 11th or 12th century of coral clay.
During the rule of Hasan ibn Sulaiman Abu’l-Mawahib (1310-1333), major
architectural constructions were performed: among them, a great dome which was favorably
described in the chronicles of Moroccan traveler, Ibn Battuta in 1331.
HUSUNI
NDOGO
Husuni
Ndogo means “Little Fort” in English and its purposes still remain unknown
among archeologists, though there are indications that it has been built as a
fort and used as a mosque during some period of time. It has a shape of a
rectangular bulwark and it is situated 80 m to the east of bigger palace. All
these buildings are discreetly surrounded by baobab trees.
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GETTING TO KILWA. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONS AND ACCOMMODATION–
If
Kilwa Kisiwani belongs to your “Must See” list, then you will have to find an
accommodation in Kilwa Masoko – a town situated 300 kilometers south of Dar es
Salaam – as there is no accommodation offered in Kilwa Kisiwani. In Masoko you
can also seize the opportunity to relax on the beach and sunbathe. A government
allowance from Cultural Centre is required in order to access to the ruins of
Kilwa. If you are staying in Masoko you will need to take a boat through canal in
order to get to Kilwa Kisiwani, and many hotels will organize this for you,
charging you approximately $6 - $8 for a roundtrip.
The
accommodations are either budget or up market ones. Mikumi guesthouse is among
the cheapest - one night ends up costing ca. $2 – together with New Jika Guest
House, which will charge you roughly $5 per night and person. Among up market
accommodations there are Kilwa Seaview Resort, Kilwa Ruins Lodge, Kilwa Beach
Lodge and Lake Maliwe Community Campsite. In these places, one night costs
between $50 and $100.
Walking
around the town use to be safe, but, however, it is recommended to travel in
groups or get a taxi or tuktuk.
For
those who are staying in Dar es Salaam and decide to visit Kilwa Kisiwani by
car, there’s good news. From 2013, there is a road network linking Dar es
Salaam and Kilwa District. This journey takes between three and four hours.
For
those who wish to take plane, there is also a flight option from Dar es Salaam
to Kilwa that operates on a daily basis, with departure at 10.30 am and arrival
at 11.40 am. It ends up costing $250 per person, though the minimum number of
travelers has to be 2. The flight from Kilwa to Dar es Salaam departs at 11.50
and arrives at 13.00 am, and the price and conditions are the same.
And
finally, if you opt for public transport, there are buses running daily to
Kilwa from Mbagala bus terminal, although the majority of direct lines leave
early in the morning - around 6 am. If you prefer to leave later, you can get a
coach to Lindi, get off at Nangurukuru and continue to Kilwa with a minibus.
During
your stay in Kilwa Masoko, you can also visit Songo Mnara Ruins, which are
considered more relevant architecturally than Kisiwani in some aspects. The
Songo Mnara is situated only 8 km of Kilwa Kisiwani and belongs to the UNESCO’s
List of World Heritage as well.
