Amu of the Pharaohs: Tracing Lamu’s Forgotten Past
The Lamu Ocean Front | Source: Author Lamu Island Lamu Island belongs to an archipelago of five islands that include Pate, Manda, Kiwayu and Manda Toto. Lamu Town on Lamu Island is not only the largest urban settlement, but also the capital of Lamu County. This archipelago is on the East African coast, with a section of the county on the mainland. Lamu Island is one of the most ancient settlements in Africa. Archaeologists propose that habitation started in the 1300s, but evidence from hieroglyphics suggest otherwise. Lamu has been mentioned several times in Ancient Egyptian texts as ‘Amu.’ The other land mentioned in the ancient texts is Punt. The fact that there is a Somali ...