Imagine Mombasa bustling centuries ago. This is Dhehdh. A place where whispers of ancient trade winds still linger.
Welcome to Dhehdh in Mombasa. Here we explore the captivating history of this coastal city. Mombasa’s story is a tapestry woven with threads of African, Persian, Arab, Portuguese, and British influences.
Mombasa’s original Arabic name was Manbasa. The Kiswahili name “Kisiwa Cha Mvita” means “Island of War”. This name reflects the many changes in ownership Mombasa endured. Mombasa’s strategic location made it a coveted prize.
Originally inhabited by African Bantu people. Mombasa later saw Jordanians in the 6th century. Persians arrived in the 9th and 10th centuries. Arabs followed establishing crucial trading routes. This era saw a flowering of civilization. Grand houses, monuments, and mosques rose enriching Mombasa’s architectural heritage.
Mombasa became a key trading center. Glass, brass, copper, iron, and rhino horn passed through its port. By the 15th century, Mombasa thrived. It had trade routes stretching to China, Persia, and India.
The Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama arrived in 1498. He sought a sea route to India. The Portuguese soon returned with force attacking the city. Almeida another Portuguese seafarer plundered Mombasa. The Portuguese built Fort Jesus between 1593 and 1598. This impressive fort dominated the harbor’s entrance.
Arabs fought fiercely to regain Mombasa. The Portuguese held on for about 100 years. They were supported by supplies from their Indian colony Goa. The Arabs finally triumphed after a long siege. The Portuguese occupiers were defeated in the siege of Fort Jesus which began in March 1696.
Intrigue and rivalry among Omani rulers weakened Mombasa. The Mazruis came to power. Later the Omani leader, Bey Saidi Sultan Sayyid Said overcame them in 1822. His remains are still buried in Mombasa.
In 1824 a British warship HMS Leven arrived. Captain Owen declared Mombasa a British protectorate. This was in exchange for the Mazruis abolishing slavery. Mombasa prospered under the Sultan largely due to the slave trade. The British pressured him to end the practice.
Kenya and Uganda became British territories in 1886. Tanganyika went to Germany. The Imperial British East Africa Company set up headquarters in Mombasa in 1888. Mombasa became the springboard for the colonization of Kenya. This began a British dominance that lasted until independence in 1963.
Mombasa became a base for British expeditions into Kenya’s interior. British rule became official in 1895. They leased a stretch of coast including Mombasa from the Sultan of Zanzibar.
The British built a railway from Mombasa to Uganda. This affirmed Mombasa’s importance. Completed in 1901 the railway boosted the city’s economy.
Today Mombasa is one of Africa’s major links to the world. Remnants of the slave trade can still be seen. Fort Jesus contains cells where slaves were held. Artifacts from that era remain.
As you stand here at Dhehdh consider Mombasa’s enduring spirit. It is a city shaped by diverse cultures struggles and triumphs. Its history echoes in the stones beneath your feet. A vibrant testament to its past.