The Mijikenda
Introduction and Identity The Mijikenda (which translates to The Nine towns/tribes) are a cluster of nine distinct but related Bantu ethnic groups inhabiting the coastal region of Kenya, from the border with Somalia in the north to Tanzania in the south. They are one of the key cultural and political pillars of the Kenyan coast. Their […]
The Pokomo People
Introduction and Identity. The Pokomo are a Bantu ethnic group native to Kenya, exclusively residing in the Tana River County along the lower and middle basins of the Tana River, Kenya’s longest river. They are a riverine people whose entire culture, economy, and social structure are intrinsically linked to the seasonal rhythms of the Tana. […]
Muhammad Said Abdulla (1918- 1991)
His Life Born in 1918 in Makunduchi, Eastern Zanzibar, Muhammad Said Abdulla is a writer often credited as the pioneer of Swahili popular literature. He was more successful in blending Eastern African lore with Western influences which he came into contact with while receiving his eduaction in a missionary school. He completed his secondary education […]
Prof Rocha Chimera
His Life The author is a Professor of Kiswahili who for a long time taught at Egerton University Njoro, before relocating to Rwanda. He was a visiting professor at Kyabongo university, Uganda and current Dean, School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Pwani University, Kilifi Kenya. Chimera holds a B.Ed. and M.A. from Kenyatta University, […]
Ngomeni Shipreck
Ngomeni is a small fishing village a few kilometers form Malindi. The town itself had a long history with the Portuguese, and played a significant role in the fall of Mombasa in the 16th century. The Portuguese were favored by the existing infighting between the sultans of Mombasa and Malindi, and when the later repelled […]
Artisanal Fishing Gear in the Kenyan Coast: Basket Trap (Malema)
Artisanal gears are the kind used by fishermen within 12 Nautical miles of Kenya’s shoreline. Basket traps are made using split bamboo frame then interwoven with split bamboo reeds, creating a hexagonal mesh basket. Bait is places in the cone-shaped entrance to attract fish. Pieces of rock are tied on the edges to weigh the […]
Ramadhan Seif Kajembe (3 June 1944 – 7 August 2020)
Ramadhan Seif Kajembe was a Kenyan politician. He was a member of the Orange Democratic Movement and was elected to represent the Changamwe Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya from 1997 to 2013, first as a KANU member under whose ticket he beat Kennedy Kiliku, then in (2002) as a NARC-Kenya member, and later […]
The Sony Walkman: Music on the move
It is the 70s and a young country Kenya is still in its formative post-independent weaning stage. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta dies in ’78 and Nyayo assumes presidency as per the constitution. Television was still not a common thing and music lovers in Kenya had taken a liking for Benga and Rhumba. Daudi Kabaka (1939-2001) “The […]
Mahmoud Abbas “Kenya One”
Born in Old Town Mombasa in 1957, Abbas became a legendary goalkeeper on club and international level, earning him the title, Kenya 1. He hails from a family with a history of respected Maalims and footballers. His father, Maalim Ahmed Abbas Said was a well-known sheikh and the secretary General of Mombasa District Football federation […]
Ship Wrecks: MV GLOBE STAR (27th April, 1973)
The Globe Star was a cargo ship that ran aground on April 27, 1973, along Nyali Reef near Mombasa, Kenya, while transporting 10,000 tons of wheat destined for Karachi, Pakistan. Despite extensive salvage efforts, the ship eventually broke apart and was abandoned. Tragically, during a salvage operation in November 1973, five individuals lost their lives […]