The city of mombasa, which is kenyas tourism capital, needs an urban regeneration programme to. Fort jesus mombasas most popular tourist attraction is next to the old town. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. The study recommends more functional, practical and transparent methods to be used to help eradicate the problem of drugs in old town, mombasa. The arabs made several attempts to regain the town but, the portuguese, supported mainly by supplies from their indian. The old town of mombasa is located on the island in the eastern, seaward end. Towns and villages near mombasa, kenya touristlink. Formulation of interpretation and presentation plan of fort jesus world heritage site and mombasa old town conservation area. Situated on the southeast side of mombasa island, the old town covers an area of 72 hectares 180 acres, and is inhabited by a mix of local, arab, asian, portuguese and british settlers in 1997, the old town and fort jesus were submitted by the national museums of kenya for selection in unescos list of world heritage sites. We further register our gratitude to the various stakeholders consulted during public stakeholder consultation for their invaluable contribution, support and cooperation.
Mombasa has a long history the traces can be found from the writings of the 16th century. Mombasa old town mombasa old town, kenya unesco world. The old town covers an area of 72 hectares 180 acres, and is inhabited by a mix of local, arab and asian settlers. While the old mombasa harbor and tudor creek separate the island from the northern mainland. At the entrance of the old town is a coffee pot and cup, a gift to mombasa which was built by mr burhan ali taher in. Basheikh mosque, also known as mnara or tangana, is the most striking of mombasa old towns many mosques. At the center of lamu old town is the town square, the lamu fort and other key public buildings. Fort jesus mombasa s most popular tourist attraction is next to the old town. Mombasablock xlvii173, comarco supply base, ganjoni, mombasa county. Architect kariuki kamaru cv 2015 jomo kenyatta university.
Publication date 2009 topics architecture vernaculaire, mombasa, kenya. Basheikh mosque, also known as mnara or tangana, is the most striking of mombasa old town s many mosques. Mombasa old town is one of the historical tourist attractions on mombasa island. Mombasa has two ports, mombasa old port on the islands east side and kilindini harbour on the west. Traders display their wares at a curio shop in old town, mombasa. If this is verified, it would make it the oldest documented mosque in kenya still preserved in its original state.
Qualitative data was collected using unstructured interviews on a sample of sixteen. Mombasa appears as a major setting in halo 2, and the entirety of halo 3. Abdel nasser road, next to fort jesus, mombasa, kenya. Mombasa offers diverse marine life, worldclass hotels and a friendly. The science fiction games are set in the year 2552, and the city has been divided into old mombasa and new mombasa a prosperous section filled with futuristic skyscrapers and an iconic orbital elevator. Their input contributed enormously towards successful completion of this e. The impacts of islandness on the urbanism and architecture of. From the top of a building near the treasury square, the historic mombasa old town unfolds before your eyes and takes you into history dating hundreds of years back.
It is located on the southeast side of mombasa and occupies an area of 180 acres. Understanding the decline of physical infrastructure and. Fort jesus, mombasa town hall, mombasa old town, nyali beach, sunset panorama, moi avenues elephant tusks and downtown mombasa. Located on the premises of fort jesus, mombasa butterfly house is yet another fantastic reason to visit the old town. Square between the old town and the historic fort jesus in mombasa, kenya on february 18, 20 kenya, africa may 2014. Due to the majority muslim population in mombasa, the old town is full of arabicstyle constructions, but with some level of british and spanish elements in them due to its history. The old town of mombasa and other towns like lamu and malindi found along the east african coast have a rich collection of. The 180 acres of land with its tapered streets and ancient architecture provide a reflection of the mix of cultures of the arab, portuguese, asian and british inhabitants who reside in mombasa. The invaders then occupied mombasa, building the impressive fort jesus and dominated the entrance to the old harbour, between 1593 and 1598. Mombasa is a place steeped in history, yet at the same time fascinating commercial and cosmopolitan port town. Situated on the southeast side of mombasa island, the old town covers an area of 72 hectares 180 acres, and is inhabited by a mix of local, arab, asian, portuguese and british settlers.
First, it discusses two central features of the swahili context in relation to each other, the potential of social integration, and the statuscentred selfconception. This page was last edited on 4 january 2018, at 06. The old town of mombasa where most of the heritage of this second largest city in kenya is largely confined in is an area of approximately 72. Swahili context mombasa, the old town and kibokoni. Lamu old town conservation area, which is equivalent to the nominated area comprises a total area of 15. Pdf learning from the swahili architecture in mombasakenya. Conservation programme which aims to regulate new development, provide a planning framework to improve infrastructure and public spaces, and provide funds for the restoration of buildings. The market is divided into a fruit and vegetables section and a meat section. There is never a dull moment for anyone who chooses to venture out into the multicultural old town of mombasa. It is inhabited by a mix of local, arab, portuguese, asian and british communities. Mombasas old town, a maze of alleyways dotted with historic swahili houses and mosques, is engrossing to explore on foot. Preparation of stakeholders workshops, management plan and supervision of restoration works at leven house historical building, mombasa. Strictly speaking, they seem to contradict each other while claiming to represent the key. Old town mombasa 2020 all you need to know before you.
Most of the current residents are of asian, arab and european origin, and the architectural style. Excerpt from the report of the 25 th session of the world heritage committee the committee inscribed lamu old town on the world heritage list under. This unesco world heritage is a mustvisit destination in mombasa. The most popular of these are mombasa old town near mombasa and ngomongo village in kilifi. Mombasa at that time was the centre of the indian ocean cloth. Restoration of old provincial headquarters building, nairobi. The buffer zone is approximated to be about 1,200 ha covering part of the indian ocean waters and the manda island skyline to guarantee the integrity and authenticity of lamu old town. The town overlooks a wide harbor, where commercial shipping mingles with traditional sailing dhows. Pdf regional architecture of old town mombasa, is a startup for work on another book entitled research methodology textbook on.
It is the countrys oldest circa 900 ad and secondlargest city after the capital nairobi, with a population of about 1,208,333 people according to the 2019 census. It is located on the eastern coastline of kenya bordering the indian ocean which has made it a popular destination for its beaches. This file is licensed under the creative commons attributionshare alike 2. The arabs made several attempts to regain the town but, the portuguese, supported mainly by supplies from their indian colony, goa, hung onto it for around 100 years. In diverse contexts ranging from postcolonialism and globalization to cultural revival and tourism development, developing countries are seeking to revive their historic port cities. The same happened in old town, mombasa, where the outer circuit of the roadsstreets nkrumah, makadara, samburu, wachangamwe and kitui corresponded to the second town wall built by the mazrui shatry a 1990 pg 30. Part of the city of mombasa is located on the island, including the old town.
The urban waterfront redevelopment diaspora, formerly confined to advanced countries, is starting to impact upon coastal settlements in former colonial territories. Old town is a spontaneously developed town where the. Mombasa s old town, a maze of alleyways dotted with historic swahili houses and mosques, is engrossing to explore on foot. Prevalence, consequences and interventions against drug abuse.
The true heart of mombasa is found in the exotic old. Most residents use the one daily bus which travels to mombasa, to enter and leave town. Old town mombasa 2020 all you need to know before you go. Historians will be in awe at the uniqueness of this port once ruled by the portuguese. Old town is a suburb of mombasa kenyas 2nd largest city,situated on the southeast side of mombasa island. The old port is now used only by dhows and small craft, bringing trade from arabia, the persian gulf, and india. The old town of mombasa where most of the heritage of this second largest city in kenya is largely confined in, is an area of approximately 72 hactares, inhabitated by a richly diverse group of communities. The fairly new attraction features a paradise of tropical butterflies in a world class ecotourism facility.
Many traders did attempt to enforce their governance on the town due to its advantageously central location, where arab influence is felt prominently till date. Despite the arrival of tourists by a luxury cruise ship in mombasa earlier this month, the town has received few visitors. Mombasa island itself is not a main attraction, although many people visit the old town and fort jesus. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in. Presiding over the harbour entrance is the late 16thcentury fort jesus, a chunky coastal defence built by the occupying portuguese to keep the coastal swahilis at bay. The city is known as the white and blue city in kenya. The town is divided into the old town, or the patrician, and surrounding development. Mombasa green map elephant tusks roadside marikiti market marikiti market tuk tuk likoni ferry old town fort jesus p indian ocean mombasa harbour port tudor liwatoni creek mbaraki eek kilindini harbour n 0 1km m t on g w e f e r ry l i k o n i f e r r y. The 10 closest hotels to old town, mombasa tripadvisor. At the entrance of the old town is a coffee pot and cup, a gift to mombasa which was built by mr burhan ali taher in 1988.
Mombasa is kenya s second largest city and a sea port. This page was last edited on 26 february 2019, at 00. Sep 02, 20 mombasa town in pictures, old town discovered by vasco da gama port of kenya at indian ocean. The old town of mombasa and other towns like lamu and malindi found along the east african coast have a rich collection of swahili architecture. According to tripadvisor travelers, these are the best ways to experience old town. Mombasa town in pictures, old town discovered by vasco da gama port of kenya at indian ocean. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page.
Mombasa is an island connected to the mainland by bridges and ferries. Lamu town, the largest settlement within lamu county, does not have infrastructure for motorized vehicles. Nevertheless, mombasa old towns conservation office, which is headed by kalandar khan, carried out restoration work in 1992, without interfering with the original architecture. Department of geography, university of southampton, southampton. Kilindini, the modern deepwater harbour, separates the island from the kenyan mainland to the south. Mombasa kenya old town walking tour including market, rickshaw tuk tuk ride, tusks duration. Mombasa became a municipality in 1928 and assumed council status in 1959. Who will save mombasas old town from fast and mindless. Prevalence, consequences and interventions against drug. Some sources estimate it to have been built around the th or 14 th century.
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