Along the coast of East Africa lie the Gede Ruins, the remains of a typical Swahili town. Although it was originally founded in the 12th century, a new town was constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries. This rebuilding is related to the exodus of many Kilwa residents to Mombasa, Malindi, and other coastal locations.

From southern Somalia to Vumba Kuu at the Kenya-Tanzania border, there are more than 100 known Swahili sites. Gedi has been the site that has seen the most extensive excavation and research since colonialists rediscover it in the 1920s. The first archaeological work at Gede began under the direction of James Kirkman followed by the first publication of the site. In 1969, Gede’s Administration was taken over by the Museum Trustees.

Numerous ruins, including a collection of mosques, a splendid palace, and dwellings, all found within 45 acres of ancient forest, indicate to a thriving, affluent community that peaked in the fourteenth century.
Several circumstances, primarily invasions from hostile neighboring villages, had forced the colony out, and around the beginning of the seventeenth century, the last families fled the town.
As it stands today, Gede is situated in Coast Province’s Kilifi district. This is roughly 90 kilometres northeast of Mombasa and 16 km south of the town of Malindi.
The Gede indigenous forest is a sacred location for local customs and sacrifices, and the Monument is cared for by the National Museums of Kenya in addition to being a very significant archaeological site.