Ft. Jesus and Old Town Mombasa

While in Mombasa, we spent a day enjoying some historic sites there: Fort Jesus and Old Town. The word Mombasa means “Island of War” which aptly fits as there

have been many battles and intrigues involving its ownership. It is one of East Africa’s oldest settlements. Some claim settlements have existed there for at least 2000 years.

Due to the importance of the natural harbour ships from Arabia, Persia,Yemen, Iran, India and even China created major trading center in Mombasa. Traders from countries to the East were interested in spices, gold, ivory, millet, seamum, coconuts, and slaves. The Kiswahili language is said to have originated here as a language of trade with words derived from Arabic, Indian, Portuguese and English.

Much later the Europeans realized its economic value. Vasco da Gama stopped there in 1498, however, he wasn’t allowed to enter the port. Almost a hundred years

later, Portugal obtained dominion and built Ft. Jesus to protect its interests. The fort was the main hub for trading, a prison for slaves, and protection for their own soldiers. The popular trade goods at that time were spices, cotton, coffee and slaves.

The Portuguese were overthrown by Omani Arabs in 1698 after being under siege for two years and nine months. And then in 1887 the British took control of the city. Between 1631 and 1875 the fort was won and lost nine times.

The Portuguese sailed under the flag of the Order of Christ, not the Portuguese flag, since they regarded themselves as representatives of Christendom. So it was natural that they named it Fort Jesus. Ft. Jesus was built in the shape of a man

as viewed from above. It was the first European-style fort constructed outside of Europe designed to resist cannon fire. A quote from the brochure pretty well sums up the fort’s history, “Fort Jesus has suffered a history of murder, siege, starvation, bombardment and treachery that makes our modern world of hi-jacking and thuggery seem quite tame.”

Old Town is located just outside Ft. Jesus. It is filled with buildings influenced by Islamic and Portuguese architecture. The carved wooden doors and balconies are beautiful.

For additional photos click here.