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Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
Coast Province (Kilifi/Kwale), ~125 mi of coastline
Kenya
Active (ritual use)
Regional cluster
- Location
- Coast Province (Kilifi/Kwale), ~125 mi of coastline
- Coordinates
- ~3.6°S 39.8°E
- Elevation
- Low hills (to ~300 m)
- Size
- 10–11 forest sites, each ~30–300 ha
- Age / Founded
- Ancient (16th c. fortified villages); UNESCO 2008
- Status
- Active (ritual use)
- Deity & Religion
- Ancestral spirits; Mijikenda traditional religion
- Community & Guardians
- Mijikenda (Giriama, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma, Ribe, Rabai, Duruma, Kinondo)
- Vernacular name
- Kaya
- Record type
- Regional cluster
Cultural practices & uses
Fortified village (kaya) sites, burial grounds, elders' councils, prayer/ritual
Plant species
Coastal lowland forest; many rare endemic plants & animals
Biome & fauna
East African coastal forest mosaic
Threats & protection
UNESCO World Heritage (2008); pressure from logging/mining/encroachment
Source
UNESCO World Heritage List #1231 (whc.unesco.org/en/list/1231)