Songo Mnara

Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara
UNESCO world heritage
Songo Mnara Ruins (2016)
National territory:	Tanzania
Type:	Culture
Criteria :	(iii)
Reference No .:	144
UNESCO region :	Africa
History of enrollment
Enrollment:	1981  ( session 5 )
Red list :	2004-2014

Songo Mnara was a port city in what is now Tanzania .

Together with Kilwa Kisiwani, the city has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 . From 2004 to 2014 it was added to the Red List of World Heritage in Danger for the lack of any measures to stop the ruins from falling . The ruins are exposed to wind and weather as well as erosion. The ruins of the trading and port city are on a small island near the coast, south of Kilwa Kisiwani.

The history of the city can be divided into two periods. On the one hand the period from the 14th to 16th Century, from which most of the coral stone structures date, including five mosques and numerous cemeteries. Not much of this has survived. On the other hand, those of the 18th century, when only small changes were made to the buildings. The city consists of numerous, partly spacious stone houses. In the southwest of the city was a palace about 40 × 40 meters.

See also : Cities on the East African Coast (800–1500)

Web links

• Entry on the UNESCO World Heritage Center website ( English and French ).

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara ( Memento of the original from September 25, 2016 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. 
2. ↑ Ancient Swahili stonetown to be excavated

Coordinates: 9 ° 2 ′ 23 ″  S , 39 ° 33 ′ 6 ″  E