Bajuni Islands, Island archipelago off southern Somalia coast.
The Bajuni Islands form an archipelago off southern Somalia's coast, comprising six main islands: Chandra, Chovaye, Chula, Koyama, Darakasi, and Ngumi. They stretch along the Indian Ocean near Kismayo, with settlements and fishing infrastructure scattered across the group.
These islands served as trading hubs for ancient Somali empires, linking merchants and fishermen with civilizations around the Indian Ocean. Their strategic location made them a center of maritime exchange for centuries.
The communities here depend on fishing and maritime trade, using wooden dhows to move between the islands and mainland. These seafaring practices remain central to how people live and work today.
Chula is the most populated island and offers basic facilities for residents and visitors. Travel between the islands relies on boats, so expect simple conditions and limited infrastructure.
Extensive ruins of an old settlement lie on Chovaye Island, documented by British officials in the early 1900s. These remains show the island once had much more substantial habitation than it does now.
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