Common Words:

Days, Numbers, Animals

Days Of The Week:

Numbers 1 To 10:

Animal Names:

Common Questions:

Greetings:

Mombasa’s history dates back to the 16th century, and it has been ruled by the Portuguese, Arabs and British-which have all influenced the town’s culture and the attractions that still exist including historical ruins such as Fort Jesus and the Old Town.

Fort Jesus remains the biggest remnant of Mombasa’s history when it was dominated by the Portuguese. The fort structure harkens back to the days of ancient battles among seafarers, and a small museum features a variety of relics from the era. Remnants of slave trade can still be seen today. Along the Coast, there are numerous deserted relics that are a testament to the era. In the town, Fort Jesus still contains cells where the slaves were held, and various artifacts from that era in the museum at the Fort. In addition to the evidence in the Fort, there also is a town bell located in Nyali just as you exit the Nyali Bridge. The bell was rung to inform the locals to hide from the slave capturers who were fast approaching. A walk through the narrow winding streets of Old Town can also provide a sense of daily life several hundred years ago.

Old Town takes visitors back through time to illustrate facets of early Swahili culture, influenced by the presence of the Omani Arabs in the town. In tandem with Muslim-influenced architecture, one can find traces of the Indian and British colonial past. Many houses in the Old Town are modeled on ancient Swahili designs, of which a defining feature tends to doors with intricately carved designs. Some of these designs are also found on the furniture in upscale hotels. A walk through Old Town can yield some fascinating insights into the traditional Swahili culture, and clearly illustrate the Muslim influence on the town and its inhabitants.

Colonial buildings from the British era are also scattered throughout the city. The famous “Mombasa Tusks” are located in the centre of town – the two pairs of crossed tusks formed a ceremonial arch to commemorate the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953. Around the Fort Jesus area, there are other government buildings that display distinctive colonial-era architecture. Treasury Square is one such area – where old colonial buildings, the historic town hall, and a charming garden square, can all be found within walking distance.

Kenya has been sometimes described as “the cradle of humanity” – the Great Rift Valley has yielded some of the earliest evidence of humans, and provided insight into how man has evolved over time across the continent. According to some sources, early settlers in Kenya were the Cushitic-speaking people from what is now Sudan and Ethiopia moved into the area that is now Kenya beginning around 2000 BC.

Portugal’s reign over Mombasa lasted for approximately 200 years, after which they were overthrown by the Omani Arabs, who themselves would be forced to give up Mombasa to its final captors: the British. The British took control of Mombasa in 1895, after the sultan of Zanzibar leased the town to the British. The British East African Protectorate was established, and promoted European colonization of Kenya lands and resources. The British took strides to establish control of the strategically important port, and completed a railway line in the early 1900’s from Mombasa to Uganda.

History: post-independence

The British rule on Kenya officially ended when Kenya finally gained its hard-fought independence on the 12th December 1963. The first president of Kenya was Jomo Kenyatta, who was an instrumental figure in the fight to gain independence from the British. His appointment as president led to the creation of a political party known as KANU (Kenya Africa National Union). President Kenyatta died in the August of 1978, and was succeeded by his vice president Daniel Arap Moi who ruled as president until 2002. President Moi stepped down in December of 2002 following fair and peaceful elections. For the first time since 1992 when Kenya’s first multiparty elections were first held, there was a new leader. Mwai Kibaki, running as the candidate of the multiethnic, united opposition group, the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), defeated KANU candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and assumed the presidency following a campaign centered on an anticorruption platform.

During President Kibaki’s tenure, there were significant political shifts until the lead up to the December 2007 election. The official opposition, led by Raila Odinga, challenged strongly for the presidency. Elections were held on December 27, 2007, with many international observers casting doubt on the outcomes of the election process. When the incumbent Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner, violence erupted in different parts of the country, with hundreds of Kenyan lives lost, and thousands more displaced. Under pressure from the international and African community, the leaders were able to come to a power-sharing agreement which eased the country out of its political crisis point.

Although Kenya experienced a few political jitters after its independence, it has finally settled down on the road to a stable and promising future for the people of Kenya. It is still widely regarded as one of Africa’s bright beacons, and continues to be a thriving economic hub for the region. All over the world, Kenya continues to be renown for their hospitality, and the local people are extremely helpful and courteous and gladly welcome foreigners who come to visit their country. Kenya is by far the most visited destination along Eastern Africa, and remains a magnet for visitors because of the exquisite quality of its wildlife and beaches.