subject: The Evolution of Malindi Town [print this page] The Evolution of Malindi Town The Evolution of Malindi Town
Along the Kenya coast, on the Indian Ocean, is a town that dates back to the 14th century. The town of Malindi is one of Kenya's oldest towns with a rich historical, political, and historical heritage.
Malindi has been a Swahili settlement for hundreds of years. It was mainly used as a port city by various foreign powers that controlled it at any one time. The influence Arabs and the Portuguese upon this ancient town are apparent to date, as depicted by monuments, religion, and buildings.
The population of Malindi is about 120,000 people. The dominant religion is Islam, introduced by the Arabs who settled and ruled much of the East African Coast from as far back as the 12th century. The local language is Swahili, which is a dialect that developed from the interaction between the Arabs and the original African inhabitants of the Coastal towns.
Today, Malindi is renowned for tourism, which is its main economic activity. It attracts a big number of tourists annually to the coast, both local and foreign. There are a number of attractions in this town. They include historical sites such as the Pillar of Vasco da Gama, a coral pillar erected by the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama in 1498, the Gedi ruins and the Juma mosque. Besides the historical sites, Malindi also boasts of being surrounded by a variety of nature's attractions. They include the Watamu Marine National Park, the Marafa Depression (popularly known as Hell's kitchen), and the Arabuko Sokoke Forest. Malindi is also a centre for certain sports such as game fishing, deep sea diving and surfing.
Perhaps more than anything, the hospitality and tranquility of Malindi town, and the simplicity of its Swahili setting will continually pull more and more people to visit this ancient town.
