Mombasa; Enchanting City on the Kenyan Coast

Exploring the colourful history and culture of Mombasa, Kenya

Mombasa, on Kenya's coast, is a city steeped in history, surrounded by palm trees and warm waters. To learn more about this fascinating port city, read "Mombasa: An Enchanting City on the Kenyan Coast" by author Emmanuel Kariuki.

In richly illustrated prose, Kariuki takes readers on a journey through Mombasa's early years, during trade with the Arabian Peninsula, Asia, the Far East, and within Africa itself. From this coffee table book, we learn of the city's strategic importance as a cosmopolitan hub connecting these distant lands as far back as the days of Chen He, the famous Chinese explorer between 1405 and 1433. Chen made a total of seven voyages, one of which ended in disaster, leaving his sailors to be adopted by the local Swahili people.

 

Mombasa has architectural gems like Old Town with its narrow streets and the centuries-old Mandhry Mosque. The imposing Portuguese Fort Jesus still stands guard after four centuries as a reminder of Mombasa's tumultuous past. This historical context provides valuable insight into how Mombasa became a melting pot of cultures. The book highlights how ancient trade routes first brought the fusion of Arab, Indian, and African influences that are still observed in Mombasa's culture today.

While the winding alleyways and vibrant markets now bustle with an array of globally influenced flavours and goods, foreign trade introduced and blended many foreign traditions into Mombasa's cuisine, textiles, and other cultural aspects integral to its identity. The book also interweaves the profiles of heroes and leaders from Mombasa to bring the pages to life. Among those featured are prominent musicians, politicians, and other notable figures who have left their indelible mark as sons and daughters of Mvita—Mombasa's original name.

Meanwhile, snapshots of the traditional Khanga wraps and regional cuisine emphasise how cultural blending makes Mombasa irresistible for tourists and upcountry Kenyans alike. The book is resplendent with colourful photography that transports readers from Nairobi with vivid descriptions of the scenic journey from Nairobi to Mombasa aboard the luxurious Madaraka Express train. There are glimpses of elephant herds and other wildlife spotted along the way in Tsavo National Park.

This enlightening book is a treat for anyone seeking to experience the cultural history and natural beauty of coastal Kenya. 

A brief History of Mombasa Town

Mombasa Town is located on Indian Ocean coast of Kenya. It has a long history as a trading port city dating back over 2000 years. The earliest inhabitants of the area were Bantu-speaking agriculturalists who are represented by not only the Swahili language and culture, but also by the Mijikenda communities who still live along the coast. prior to the coming of the Portuguese in search of a trade route to India, Mombasa was already an important trading center for trade in iron, ivory and agricultural produce.

Omani Arabs expanded their sphere of influence and governance to Malindi, Mombasa, at first with local communities, before making governance a purely Arab domain before the arrival of the Portuguese who were a great naval power of the time. In 1593, the Portuguese took control of Mombasa from local Arabs but were later expelled, when the Omani's consolidated their rule over the East African Coast. Mombasa was soon part of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.

In the late 19th century, Mombasa came under British control as Kenya became a British colony. After independence in 1963, Mombasa continues to be a major transportation and trade hub serving coastal Kenya and countries further inland. it is the second largest City after Nairobi with the status of County number one, out of Kenya's 47 counties.

About Emmanuel Kariuki

Emmanuel Kariuki graduated from the University of Nairobi with a degree and an MA in art and design. He had a brief career as a designer at book publishing houses before going into private practice. Later, he doubled up as a lecturer, teaching publication design, typography, graphics, and entrepreneurship at the Buru Buru Institute of Fine Art. After his teaching stint, Kariuki developed both temporary and permanent displays across Kenya as an exhibit designer for the National Museums of Kenya.

Fiction writing, graphics design, sculpture, fine art, and exhibition creation and design are among Kariuki's proficiencies. He specialises in acrylic painting on canvas. He is the author of thirteen children's books and five young adult novels, four of which are available on Amazon. Additionally, Kariuki is the author of a Swahili adult fiction novel titled Mahari na Mali.