Kimbiji Ruins

Last updated
Kimbiji Ruins
Kimbiji Mosque detail, Kigamboni MC.jpg
Old Kimbiji Mosque
Tanzania relief location map.svg
Archaeological site icon (red).svg
Shown within Tanzania
Location Kimbiji ward,
Kigamboni District,
Dar es Salaam Region,
Flag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Coordinates 6°58′59.88″S39°31′53.4″E / 6.9833000°S 39.531500°E / -6.9833000; 39.531500
TypeSettlement
History
Material Coral rag
Founded 10th century CE
Abandoned18th century CE
Cultures Swahili
Site notes
ConditionEndangered
OwnershipTanzanian Government
ManagementAntiquities Division, under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism [1]
Architecture
Architectural styles Swahili & Islamic
Official nameKimbiji Ruins Historic Site
TypeCultural
Currently neglected and vandalized

Kimbiji Ruins (Swahili : Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Kimbiji) is a Medieval Swahili, National Historic Site located in Kimbiji ward of Kigamboni District in Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. Although the site has been vandalized by an illegally felled tree that fell on the mosque, the Tanzanian government is working to launch restoration measures as soon as possible. [2] [3]

Contents

History

The location of this place is around 300 meters to the east of Kimbiji town. There are stone ruins there with a lot of indigenous and foreign pottery on the surface. Additionally, there is a mosque that is in ruins and is thought to have been built in the 18th century A.D. The land around the mosque is a cemetery, and the majority of the burials contain large fragments of European objects from the 18th and 19th centuries that were utilized in religious acts. Local potsherds were found in great quantity in a shovel test trench dug at the location, which was filled to a depth of 80 cm with them. The site may have been inhabited continuously for a very long time, according to finds from the deposits. [4] [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bagamoyo</span> Port city and National Historic Site of Tanzania

Bagamoyo, is a historic coastal town founded at the end of the 18th century, though it is an extension of a much older Swahili settlement, Kaole. It was chosen as the capital of German East Africa by the German colonial administration and it became one of the most important trading ports for the Germans along the East African coast along the west of the Indian Ocean in the late 19th and early 20th century. Today, it is the capital of the Bagamoyo District in Pwani Region. In 2011, the town had 82,578 inhabitants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tongoni Ruins</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania


The Tongoni Ruins are a 15th century Swahili ruins of a mosque and forty tombs located in Tongoni ward in Tanga District inside Tanga Region of Tanzania. The area was a different place four to five centuries ago. Contrary to its almost unnoticed presence today, it was a prosperous and a respected Swahili trading centre during the 15th century. Most of the ruins are still not yet been uncovered. The site is a registered National Historic Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kizimkazi Mosque</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

The Kizimkazi Dimbani Mosque is a mosque Located in the town of Dimbani, Kusini District of Unguja South Region in Tanzania. It is situated on the southern tip of the island of Zanzibar in Tanzania and is one of the oldest Islamic buildings on the East African coast. Despite its name, it is located in Dimbani, not Kizimkazi, which is 3 miles away. According to a preserved kufic inscription, it was built in 1107. Although the inscription and certain coral-carved decorative elements date from the period of construction, the majority of the present structure was rebuilt in the 18th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbweni, Kinondoni</span> Ward of Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam Region

Mbweni is an administrative ward in Kinondoni District of the Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. The Indian Ocean and the Kerege ward of Bagamoyo District of Pwani Region encircle the ward's northern boundary. Kunduchi and Bunju wards form the ward's southern and western boundaries. The ward of Mbweni was once home to a Medieval Swahili settlement. According to the 2012 census, the ward has a population of 13,766.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Msasani</span> Ward of Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam Region

Msasani is an administrative ward in Kinondoni District of the Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. The ward is bordered to the north and east by the Indian Ocean. Kinondoni, Hananasif and Kivukoni ward of Ilala MC border the ward to the south. Lastly, Mikocheni and Kawe to the west. Msasani is named after Medieval Swahili settlement that used to exist in the ward. According to the 2012 census, the ward has a population of 48,920.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kimbiji</span> Ward of the Kigamboni District in the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania

Kimbiji is an administrative ward in the Kigamboni district of the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. The Indian Ocean borders the ward on its eastern side. Pembamnazi to the south and Kisarawe II to the west form its borders. The ward is bordered by Somangila to the north. The ward is home to the Kimbiji Ruins a National Historic Site. Kimbiji is named after said Medieval Swahili settlement in the ward. According to the 2002 census, the ward has a total population of 6,411.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mjimwema, Kigamboni</span> Ward of the Kigamboni District in the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania

Mjimwema is an administrative ward in the Kigamboni district of the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. Tungi and the Indian Ocean border the ward on its northern side. East is Somangila. South of it, it is bordered by Kibada and Kisarawe II. By Vijibweni, the west. Mjimwema is named after Medieval Swahili settlement that was once located in the ward.According to the 2012 census, the ward has a total population of 27,789.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaole</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

Kaole is a national historic site located in Bagamoyo District of Pwani Region in Tanzania. The site is located three miles east of the historic city of Bagamoyo on the Indian Ocean coast. The area contains old Swahili coral stone ruins dating to a period between the 13th century and the 16th century. Some of the ruins date back to the 13th century and consist of two mosques and 30 tombs.

Adria Jean LaViolette is an American archaeologist at the University of Virginia. She is a specialist in Swahili archaeology and is the joint editor of The Swahili World.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Historic Sites of Tanzania</span> List of National Heritage Sites of Tanzania

National Historic Sites of Tanzania is an official list of places in Tanzania that have been designated as National Historic Sites as per the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism of Tanzania under the Antiquities Division. The list is not complete and is currently being updated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mkama Ndume</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

Mkama Ndume Ruins 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. The site is located 10 km (6.2 mi) east of the town of Chake-Chake. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chwaka, Pemba</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

Chwaka is a medieval Swahili historic site next to the village of Chwaka located in Micheweni District of Pemba North Region, Tanzania. There is an excavated Swahili mosque on the site. The location of these ruins is 6 km (3.7 mi) from the small town of Konde, at the end of a trail that extends 900 m (3,000 ft) in the direction of the village of Tumbe on the way to the village of Myumoni.

Shamiani is protected historic site located inside Mkoani District of Pemba South Region in Tanzania. The site is home to partially excavated abandoned medieval Swahili ruins with a brief occupation period from about 14th to 16th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Msuka Mjini Ruins</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

Msuka Mjini Ruins is protected historic site located inside Micheweni District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. Msuka Mjini has a Swahili mosque from the fifteenth century preserved in ruins on the Kigomasha peninsula on the island. The date 816AH is carved on the interior of the circular mirhab.

Kichokochwe is protected historic site located inside Wete District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. The site is home to partially excavated abandoned late medieval Swahili ruins, with a mosque and tombs.

Mduuni Ruins is protected historic site located inside Micheweni District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. The settlement was established around 1100 CE.

Mkia wa Ng'ombe Ruins is protected historic site located inside Micheweni District of Pemba North Region in Tanzania. The settlement was established around the 15th CE and abandoned in the 16th century. There are ruins of a mosque, tombs and some stone buildings. The site is critically endangered to further erosion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kunduchi Ruins</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

Kunduchi is a Medieval Swahili National Historic Site located in Kunduchi ward, located in Kinondoni District of Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. There is an excavated 15th-century mosque on the site. An 18th-century cemetery with the biggest collection of pillared tombs in East Africa, situated in a baobab woodland, and embellished with Ming era's porcelain plates. The pottery discovered here demonstrates the medieval town's affluence and trading connections with imperial China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbuamaji</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

Mbuamaji or sometimes spelled Mbwamaji is a Medieval Swahili, National Historic Site located in Somangila ward of Kigamboni District in Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. Despite years of neglect that resulted in vandalism, the Tanzanian government is aiming to start restoration efforts as soon as possible.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbutu Bandarini</span> National Historic Site of Tanzania

Mbutu Bandarini Ruins(Swahili: Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Mbutu Bandarini) is a Medieval Swahili, National Historic Site located in Somangila ward of Kigamboni District in Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. Despite years of indifference that led to vandalism of the site, the Tanzanian government has contracted a firm to begin repair operations as soon as feasible.

References

  1. "Antiquities Division" . Retrieved 21 Jul 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. "Contract of Restoration of Historical Structures in Kimbiji" (PDF). Retrieved 4 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. de Vere Allen, James (1981). "Swahili Culture and the Nature of East Coast Settlement". The International Journal of African Historical Studies. 14 (2): 306–334. doi:10.2307/218047. JSTOR   218047.
  4. Kessy, Emmanuel (December 1997). "Archaelogical Sites Survey from Kisiju to Dar es Salaam" (PDF). Retrieved 4 July 2023.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. Felix A. Chami. (1994) The first millennium AD on the East Coast: a new look at the cultural sequence and interactions. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa 29-30:1, pages 227-237