Siyu, on Pate island, 30 mn by boat from Lamu, is the only town that built a fort of its own, unlike Mombasa and Lamu where the forts were put up by foreigners. The fort was built by one of Siyu's leaders, Bwana Mataka, in the 19th century to safeguard Siyu residents from Omani domination. This fort constructed of coral with a small mosque within it. If the guard is not around, you cannot visit it! The guard was not around! © Eric Lafforgue www.ericlafforgue.com