MKAMANDUME RUIN

The Mkama Ndume Ruins, also known as Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Mkama Ndume in Swahili, are medieval Swahili settlement palace ruins located in the Chake Chake District of Pemba South Region. These ruins were abandoned in the 16th Century before the arrival of the Portuguese and are renowned for their fortification. The settlement was ruled by a leader named Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman, who was infamous for his cruelty towards his subjects, earning him the nickname Mkama Ndume, meaning “milker of men” in old Swahili. The ruins bear this nickname as a reminder of his harsh rule.

Visitors to the site can explore various structures such as an underground storage chamber, an ancient fallen arch, symbolic shrines, a reception hall, and a pristine pool of blue water. The ruins offer insights into the historical significance and architectural remnants of this medieval Swahili settlement