Pujini Palace — Mkama Ndume Citadel
Swahili (15th c. CE)·Swahili (Mohamed bin Abdulaziz?)·🇹🇿 Pemba Island, Tanzania
About
About Pujini Palace — Mkama Ndume Citadel
Pujini Palace — Mkama Ndume Citadel in Pemba Island, Tanzania is a Swahili (15th c. CE) fortress attributed to Swahili (Mohamed bin Abdulaziz?). Fortified palace citadel of Mkama Ndume despot with walls 2 m thick and corner towers. LaViolette: Pemba's largest fortress-palace with 15th c. walls and decapitation lore.
Why it mattersKey Swahili (Mohamed bin Abdulaziz?) centre in the Pemba Island
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronological seriation
- 02Trade network evidence
Theories
- 01Long-distance Indian Ocean trade
- 02Kushite royal succession
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 1450 CE
- Period
- Swahili (15th c. CE)
- Culture
- Swahili (Mohamed bin Abdulaziz?)
- Purpose
- Fortified palace citadel of Mkama Ndume despot with walls 2 m thick and corner towers
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 1450 CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Reisner/Kirkman survey
On the ground
Structures & features
5.2300° S · 39.8000° E · 20 m · 3 mapped features
Pujini Palace — Mkama Ndume Citadel — Curtain Wall
wallFortress wall circuit
5.2298° S · 39.8001° EPujini Palace — Mkama Ndume Citadel — Corner Tower
towerTower bastion
5.2302° S · 39.8002° EPujini Palace — Mkama Ndume Citadel — Gate
gateFortified gate
5.2296° S · 39.7997° E