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Fatuma's Tower
and Yoga House
is a three
stories building
built of thick
coral walls with
high ceilingis
located in the
sleepy fishing
village of
Shella on the
island of Lamu.
Fatuma's Tower
was last
occupied a
hundred years
ago by a Swahili
noble woman
named Fatuma Abu
Bakar who lived
in this
sanctuary
attended by five
female slaves
until the end of
the 19th
century. Over
time, all the
floors of the
building and
most of its
walls fell to
the ground.
 
Fatuma’s
Tower has been
reconstructed to
have four double
rooms with
washrooms (and
hot water) and
two singles
sharing a
washroom. All
rooms are
furnished in the
traditional
Swahili style
with tasteful
wooden
furniture. Bed
linen, mosquito
nets, house
towels and fans
are provided and
there is a safe
for valuables.
The rooftop
terrace reached
by narrow stairs
has a panoramic
view of Shela,
the dunes and
the sea. Here
you can meditate
or gaze at the
night sky of
brilliant stars
and changing
phases of the
moon.
 
Fatuma's
Tower and
Wellness Center
has a yoga
practice hall
where the
slanted window
construction
form perfected
by the old
mosques prevents
the entry of
direct sunlight
and keeps the
hall cool and
together with
traditional
Swahili
plasterwork
gives the whole
building an
immediate
feeling of
serenity and
calm. There are
two regular Yoga
classes daily.
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