Posts

From Port Florence to Kisumu: A City Shaped by Rail, Lake, and Legend

Image
                                                A view down Oginga Odinga Street, Kisumu Introduction to Kisumu City Kisumu is Kenya's third largest city after Nairobi and the port City of Mombasa. It is the second largest in the Lake Victoria basin, after Kampala in Uganda. Kisumu’s origins as a town can be traced to the arrival of the Uganda Railway in 1901 from the port of Mombasa. The train went into service in 1903. The terminus was first called Port Florence, though the locals called it Kisuma. This was later changed to Kisumu. It is likely that the locals met at Kisuma for barter trade long before the arrival of the railway. Ancient pictures show a thriving market in Kisumu. The gulf on which Kisumu (1,131 m, 3,711 ft above sea level), is situated at Winam gulf, which is part of the larger Kavirondo Gulf on Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the second largest Fres...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ouagadougou: Heartbeat of Burkina Faso’s Past and Present

Image
                                                                                  Ouagadougou city centre - source: Author Ougadougou City,   the Capital City of Burkina Faso Ouagadougou, affectionately referred to as Ouaga, is the vibrant and bustling capital city of Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso means the land of the upright people, which literally means incorruptible. It is located in the heart of West Africa, and is the cultural, and economic hub of the country. The official language is French but the most widely spoken language is more of the Mossi. The Mossi make up 52% of the Burkina Population. The other widely spoken language in Burkina Faso and by millions of people in West Africa is Dyula as a principle language of commerce. With its unique blend of traditional Africa...
Post a Comment
Read more

From Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi to Mukunga and Ngaa: Tracing the Divine Lineages of Mount Kenya

Image
                                   Mt Kenya; a religious symbol of the Kikuyu, Embu, Chuka and Meru - Wikimedia commons Introduction: Exploring the Roots of Kenyan Cultures The origin stories of a people provide a crucial window into their worldview, beliefs, and history. For the Kikuyu, Meru, Gumba, and Chuka communities in Kenya, these myths, passed down through generations, explain their beginnings, migrations, and relationships with the land and each other. This article delves into these fascinating narratives, offering a comparative look at their key themes and variations. The Kikuyu Origin Myth: Gĩkũyũ and Mũmbi The most prominent origin story among the Kikuyu centers on Gĩkũyũ (the Adam figure) and Mũmbi (the Eve figure). This narrative, documented by scholars like Kenyatta (1938), Cagnolo (1933), and Gathigira (1933), was traditionally shared with every Kikuyu child as a fundamental part of...
Post a Comment
Read more

Amu of the Pharaohs: Tracing Lamu’s Forgotten Past

Image
                                                                                 The Lamu Ocean Front  |  Source: Author  Lamu Island Lamu Island belongs to an archipelago of five islands that include Pate, Manda, Kiwayu and Manda Toto. Lamu Town on  Lamu Island  is not only the largest urban settlement, but also the capital of Lamu County. This archipelago is on the East African coast, with a section of the county on the mainland. Lamu Island is one of the most ancient settlements in Africa. Archaeologists propose that habitation started in the 1300s, but evidence from hieroglyphics suggest otherwise. Lamu has been mentioned several times in Ancient Egyptian texts as ‘Amu.’ The other land mentioned in the ancient texts is Punt. The fact that there is a Somali ...
Post a Comment
Read more