Shimoni Village History
Shimoni was also the original headquarters of the Imperial East Africa Company, in the years before Kenya even became a British Colony. Immediately opposite to the entrance of the cave, are the remains of the old headquarters building. It later became the District Commissioner's House in Colonial times. This Building is one of the earliest buildings to be erected by Europeans in East Africa. Rumor has it from a good source that the national museums of Kenya has a master plan to clean up the Shimoni sea front and the old ruin will be a centre piece for visitors.
Shimoni in Swahili means ‘The place of the cave’. Shimoni Caves are a fascinating historical site and were formerly used as “Kayas” – shrines and as a hiding place for the native people who hid from attacks by marauding tribes from the hinterland. Dank and dark, they would have been well hidden here.
Formed millions of years ago by coral polyps under the sea, there are several caves once joined together and believed to extend some 5 kilometres inland.
is almost certain that Arabs used these caves as a pen to hold slaves pending the arrival of ships to transfer them to Zanzibar. Reports of old, rusty chains found in the cave lend credence to this belief.
Thus the caves have a grisly history, which inspired the song “Shimoni” by renowned Kenya-born singer, Rodger Whittaker who recorded it in these very caves.
In his song, Whittaker imagines that the voices of the dead slaves are calling to him from the walls of the caves.
“Listen as a million slaves tell you
how they walked so far,
how many died in misery, while the rest
were sold in Zanzibar"
Maybe, if you stop and listen in the silence, you too will hear them, for these caves must have seen so much human agony.
Ironically By visiting the caves ,, you have helped in efforts to earn money for much needed development in Shimoni and in turn change the caves into positive happiness giving community support.
