Mnarani Ruins in Kilifi District and Fort Jesus in Mombasa
8th and 9th of March 2018
8th and 9th of March 2018
The TICASS team participated in two study tours: one to Mnarani Ruins within Kilifi District, the other to Fort Jesus in Mombasa; in order to acquire knowledge on the historical background and cultural context of the region.
The tour to Mnarani Ruins was guided by the Professor of Archaeology at Pwani University, Ibrahim Busolo, who has conducted scientific investigations there, confirming that Swahili culture was matriarchal.
Mnarani was first occupied in the early 14th century and it belonged to Swahili culture, dated between the 7th and 19th centuries, an amalgam of original African culture with Arab, Indian, and Chinese influences.
Fort Jesus, laid at the entrance to the port in Mombasa, revealed to the TICASS researchers the history of Portuguese, Arab, and English colonization in the region. Interesting to note is that neither the Portuguese nor Arabs were interested in appropriating land in the country, being focused instead on trade and military issues. The British started to colonize the land of Kenya with missionaries.
In both Mnarani and in Fort Jesus it was possible to notice that the Kenyan government does not treat seriously the preservation of cultural heritage.
The tour to Mnarani Ruins was guided by the Professor of Archaeology at Pwani University, Ibrahim Busolo, who has conducted scientific investigations there, confirming that Swahili culture was matriarchal.
Mnarani was first occupied in the early 14th century and it belonged to Swahili culture, dated between the 7th and 19th centuries, an amalgam of original African culture with Arab, Indian, and Chinese influences.
Fort Jesus, laid at the entrance to the port in Mombasa, revealed to the TICASS researchers the history of Portuguese, Arab, and English colonization in the region. Interesting to note is that neither the Portuguese nor Arabs were interested in appropriating land in the country, being focused instead on trade and military issues. The British started to colonize the land of Kenya with missionaries.
In both Mnarani and in Fort Jesus it was possible to notice that the Kenyan government does not treat seriously the preservation of cultural heritage.
