Mtepe

The mtepe's planks are held together by wooden pegs[2] and coir[3][a], so it is a sewn boat designed to be flexible[3][b] in contrast to the rigid vessels of western technique.

The cessation of the production of mtepe has been ascribed to the arrival of the Portuguese in the Indian Ocean in the 15th century, leading to boat builders adopting alternative, western shipbuilding techniques.

[3] Nearly a dozen photographs and nine known model mtepe have been preserved.

[3] One model is kept at the Lamu Museum, 150 mi (240 km) north.

[3] One model is kept at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London.