Ras Mkumbuu Ruins

All Photos and text by Ali Sultan

I had a chance to visit Ras Mkumbuu - June 26-2012.

Ras Mkumbuu is one the historical site and archealogical documented. It's located at the tip of a long peninsula to the north of Chake Chake creek/lies at the west coast of Chake-Chake district.

It is believed that Ras Mkumbuu is one of the ancient settlement and largest trading cities on the East African coast during the 13th and 14th centuries.

According to available documents in Zanzibar Archives, Archeologists have also uncovered the remnants of a 10th century mosque (picutred below) suggesting a much earlier settlement.

Some photos taken show magnitude of coastal erosion whereby mangroves and remains of the mosques washed away by rising sea level.

Local residents claimed that sea water intrusion is more serious because sea water has recently invaded into their paddy farms.

To avert the situation, the residents build a small local dykes to keep away salty water into their farms -- but this proves futile considering that they don't have 'know how' of building such kind of barrier.