The Battle of Shela (or Kuduhu) occurred around 1812 on the sand dunes near the village of Shela on Lamu Island, in what is now Kenya, just south of the larger village of Lamu. The people of Lamu won against superior forces from Mombasa and Pate. The battle led to the domination of the coast by the rulers of Oman.
The Lamu Archipelago is a group of three islands off the coast of what is now Kenya. The largest and most fertile is Pate, the northernmost. Manda lies to the south of Pate, separated by a narrow channel from Lamu, the farthest south. Manda and Lamu are sandy and covered with dunes. Lamu supports mango and coconut trees. The islands provide the best anchorages on the coast north of Mombasa.[1]
The battle was one of several between the people of Lamu and Pate during the 18th and 19th centuries.[2] At the time of the war the population of Lamu was estimated at between 15,000 and 21,000, and the town was expanding its trade while Pate was in decline. The sultans of Pate had taken to living in Lamu.[3] Both the Nabahani of Pate and their allies the Mazrui of Mombasa were recent arrivals with Arab origins.[4] The conflict arose from resentment over domination by Pate by the Suudi elders of Lamu.[5] When the Sultan of Pate, Fumo Madi, died, a contest for the succession began between his son Fumo Luti Kipunga and Ahmad bin Shaykh, a cousin. The Mazrui of Mombasa sided with Ahmad and sent troops to support his claim.[6]
Battleedit
The date of the battle is uncertain, but it was some time between 1807 and 1813.[7] Most of the fighting occurred at Hidabu Hill.[2] Lamu gained an unexpected victory over the forces of Pate and Mombasa. The story is that the tide unexpectedly retreated and stranded the invaders' boats, and while they tried to float them they were massacred.[8] According to the Pate Chronicle, 81 "important" people died, as well as numerous slaves and "unimportant" people. The sands of the battle site held the skulls and bones of the dead for many years.[7]
Aftermathedit
The continued threat from their neighbors prompted the people of Lamu to call for help from Oman.[8]Said bin Sultan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman (r. 1804-1856) sent a governor to Lamu around 1814.[9] Sultan Sayyid Said bin Sultan assisted in construction of Lamu Fort, which began in 1813 and was completed around 1821.[10] The Sultan used Fort Lamu as a base for defeating the Mazrui rebels in Mombasa, and for establishing control over the East African coast. He moved the capital of his sultanate to Zanzibar. With its strategic importance lost, Lamu soon declined in economic importance compared to Mombasa and Zanzibar.[8] As a result, Pouwels argues that the Battle of Shela formed a decision point in the history of the coast of Kenya.[11]
Biersteker, Ann; Shariff, Ibrahim Noor (2012-01-01). Mashairi ya Vita vya Kuduhu: War Poetry in Kiswahili Exchanged at the Time of the Battle of Kuduhu. MSU Press. ISBN978-0-87013-894-2.
"Lamu Fort Historical Background". National Museum, Kenya. Archived from the original on 2013-04-23. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
Pouwels, Randall L. (1991). "The Battle of Shela : The Climax of an Era and a Point of Departure in the Modem History of the Kenya Coast". Cahiers d'études africaines. 31 (123): 363–389. doi:10.3406/cea.1991.1581. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
Pouwels, Randall L. (2002-06-06). Horn and Crescent: Cultural Change and Traditional Islam on the East African Coast, 800-1900. Cambridge University Press. ISBN978-0-521-52309-7. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
Trillo, Richard (2002). Kenya. Rough Guides. ISBN978-1-85828-859-8. Retrieved 2013-12-10.
January 01, 1970
battle, shela, kuduhu, occurred, around, 1812, sand, dunes, near, village, shela, lamu, island, what, kenya, just, south, larger, village, lamu, people, lamu, against, superior, forces, from, mombasa, pate, battle, domination, coast, rulers, oman, datec, 1813l. The Battle of Shela or Kuduhu occurred around 1812 on the sand dunes near the village of Shela on Lamu Island in what is now Kenya just south of the larger village of Lamu The people of Lamu won against superior forces from Mombasa and Pate The battle led to the domination of the coast by the rulers of Oman Battle of ShelaDatec 1813LocationShela Lamu Island Kenya2 17 49 S 40 54 40 E 2 297 S 40 911 E 2 297 40 911ResultVictory for LamuBelligerentsLamuMombasa and Pate Commanders and leadersZahidi Mngumi of LamuSultan Ahmed of Pateclass notpageimage Location on the East African coast Contents 1 Background 2 Battle 3 Aftermath 4 ReferencesBackground editThe Lamu Archipelago is a group of three islands off the coast of what is now Kenya The largest and most fertile is Pate the northernmost Manda lies to the south of Pate separated by a narrow channel from Lamu the farthest south Manda and Lamu are sandy and covered with dunes Lamu supports mango and coconut trees The islands provide the best anchorages on the coast north of Mombasa 1 The battle was one of several between the people of Lamu and Pate during the 18th and 19th centuries 2 At the time of the war the population of Lamu was estimated at between 15 000 and 21 000 and the town was expanding its trade while Pate was in decline The sultans of Pate had taken to living in Lamu 3 Both the Nabahani of Pate and their allies the Mazrui of Mombasa were recent arrivals with Arab origins 4 The conflict arose from resentment over domination by Pate by the Suudi elders of Lamu 5 When the Sultan of Pate Fumo Madi died a contest for the succession began between his son Fumo Luti Kipunga and Ahmad bin Shaykh a cousin The Mazrui of Mombasa sided with Ahmad and sent troops to support his claim 6 Battle editThe date of the battle is uncertain but it was some time between 1807 and 1813 7 Most of the fighting occurred at Hidabu Hill 2 Lamu gained an unexpected victory over the forces of Pate and Mombasa The story is that the tide unexpectedly retreated and stranded the invaders boats and while they tried to float them they were massacred 8 According to the Pate Chronicle 81 important people died as well as numerous slaves and unimportant people The sands of the battle site held the skulls and bones of the dead for many years 7 Aftermath editThe continued threat from their neighbors prompted the people of Lamu to call for help from Oman 8 Said bin Sultan Sultan of Muscat and Oman r 1804 1856 sent a governor to Lamu around 1814 9 Sultan Sayyid Said bin Sultan assisted in construction of Lamu Fort which began in 1813 and was completed around 1821 10 The Sultan used Fort Lamu as a base for defeating the Mazrui rebels in Mombasa and for establishing control over the East African coast He moved the capital of his sultanate to Zanzibar With its strategic importance lost Lamu soon declined in economic importance compared to Mombasa and Zanzibar 8 As a result Pouwels argues that the Battle of Shela formed a decision point in the history of the coast of Kenya 11 References editCitations Pouwels 2002 p 7 a b Biersteker amp Shariff 2012 p 44 Pouwels 1991 p 371 Pouwels 1991 p 377 Pouwels 1991 p 364 Pouwels 1991 p 365 a b Pouwels 1991 p 363 a b c Trillo 2002 p 555 Pouwels 1991 p 384 Lamu Fort Historical Background National Museum Pouwels 1991 p title Sources Biersteker Ann Shariff Ibrahim Noor 2012 01 01 Mashairi ya Vita vya Kuduhu War Poetry in Kiswahili Exchanged at the Time of the Battle of Kuduhu MSU Press ISBN 978 0 87013 894 2 Lamu Fort Historical Background National Museum Kenya Archived from the original on 2013 04 23 Retrieved 2013 12 10 Pouwels Randall L 1991 The Battle of Shela The Climax of an Era and a Point of Departure in the Modem History of the Kenya Coast Cahiers d etudes africaines 31 123 363 389 doi 10 3406 cea 1991 1581 Retrieved 2013 12 10 Pouwels Randall L 2002 06 06 Horn and Crescent Cultural Change and Traditional Islam on the East African Coast 800 1900 Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 52309 7 Retrieved 2013 12 10 Trillo Richard 2002 Kenya Rough Guides ISBN 978 1 85828 859 8 Retrieved 2013 12 10 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Battle of Shela amp oldid 1192822039, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
