The seminary
Students from across East Africa.
Yuma901 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Kevin Borland — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Halfnhav4 — CC BY-SA 4.0
A mosque and seminary at the southern end of Lamu Old Town, founded in the early twentieth century by Habib Saleh bin Alawi Jamal al-Layl, a scholar of Hadrami descent, as a centre for teaching the Islamic sciences to students from the whole coast. Riyadha has since become one of East Africa's leading centres of religious learning, drawing students from Kenya, Tanzania, the Comoros and beyond, with a school, a library and student lodgings beside the mosque. The mosque is famous for its annual celebration of the Prophet's birthday (Maulidi), begun by its founder, which runs for days with dhikr circles, poetry and processions and draws thousands of visitors to Lamu from across East Africa and further afield. Muslims pray here at prayer times; non-Muslims usually view it from outside or respectfully attend the public Maulidi events. Dress modestly, and women should bring a headscarf.
Students from across East Africa.
Days of dhikr and poetry.
South of the old town.
Langoni quarter, south of Lamu Old Town
Lamu Old TownThe oldest continuously inhabited and best-preserved Swahili town in East Africa2 minutes walk
Lamu FortA square fort with high walls and corner towers on the main square of Lamu Old T3 minutes walk4.3
Lamu MuseumA museum in an elegant waterfront building in Lamu that housed consular official5 minutes walk4.1Every year in the Islamic month of Rabi al-Awwal, so its Gregorian date moves with the Hijri calendar; it runs for several days around the Riyadha Mosque.