Location | Chake Chake District, Pemba South Region, Tanzania |
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Coordinates | 5°17′52.08″S 39°48′28.8″E / 5.2978000°S 39.808000°E |
Type | Settlement |
History | |
Material | Coral rag |
Founded | 15th century CE |
Abandoned | 16th century CE |
Cultures | Swahili |
Site notes | |
Condition | Endangered |
Ownership | Tanzanian Government |
Management | Antiquities Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism [1] |
Architecture | |
Architectural styles | Swahili & Islamic |
Official name | Mkama Ndume Historic Site |
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 10 km (6.2 mi) 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]