Prior to the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, people of various countries and regions migrated to the island of Lamu.

Traders and sailors from the Arabian Peninsula, China, India and South-East Asia traveled across the Indian Ocean to the East African Coast to reach the island of Lamu.

The different social classes are separated into the following: indigenous people (Wenyeji), foreigners (Wageni), Arabs (Waarabu) and the Africans (Waafrika).

[7] A port was founded on the island of Lamu by Arab traders at least as early as the fourteenth century, when the Pwani Mosque was built.

In Lamu Old Town, the principal inhabited part of the island, is one of the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlements in East Africa..

The town is characterized by the simplicity of structural forms enriched by such features as inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors.

In 1813, the elite of Pate Island, allied with the Mazrui clan from Oman, attempted to subjugate Lamu in the Battle of Shela.

This attempt failed totally, and the defeat of Pate at Shela signalled the rise of Lamu as the leading power in the archipelago.

Shela is also home to the most spectacular beaches on Lamu island, which were damaged during the tsunami caused by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake.

It makes a sharp contrast to Lamu town (directly opposite the airstrip on Manda) which lacks a beach and functions as a relatively busy port.

Known for the building and repairing of dhows, Matondoni lies at the northwest coast of the island, 7.3 km (4.5 mi) west of Lamu (town).

Locals here create straw mats, baskets, hats and kifumbu (woven strainer), used to squeeze milk from mashed coconut.

[18] Michael W. Smith featured a song about visiting the island called "Lamu" on his 1986 album The Big Picture.

With the diverse cultural and colorful design of Lamu, it is a place of interest for tourists drawn to the East African Coast.