Fort Jesus - The Coastal Tourism Paradise

Known as Mombasa's most popular tourist fascination, Fort Jesus is probably the country's best preserved piece of history. Built in 1593 by Portuguese, this fort has withstood the test of time, wind and water.

Hitorical background

The fort was designed by an Italian by the name Joao Batista and was 'curved' off from a coral ridge at the entrance to the coastal area. This rock secured the Portuguese during battles especially between 1696 to 1698 war. It was built at a vantage point with the sight of oncoming water vessels very clear and almost the whole coastal strip in sight. The fort got its name from the shape; from an aerial view, the fort looks like a man and it was built to save and protect people, hence the name Jesus.

Perhaps the most astonishing fact about this fort is that it was lost after winning a total of nine times between the year 1631 and 1875. It was eventually converted from a fort into a prison by the British who colonized Kenya.

In 2011, the fort was declared a UNESCO world heritage site even though it had undergone several changes from its original design and shape.

Fort Jesus as a Tourist Destination

Located along the famous Mombasa beach where tourists flock every year for a change of climate, Fort Jesus has established itself as a must see destination both for recreational and educational purposes.

The mere sight of the fort standing right at the edge of the beach and the sea is enough to get tourists asking all sorts of questions about its origin. The beautiful architecture employed by its builders is unmatched even in this modern age and the mere ingenuity used to build it is marvelous.

The inside of the fort is in the form of a little self contained town. Before it was turned into a prison and the huts inside the fort removed, the fort had been built to save people and hence the need for a constant source of water and food. The rough looking fort built to precision to ward off any enemies, in fact, very different from the homely design used in the interior. On the flip side, after the British took charge, they created prison cells and dungeons that stand to date. These prisons are a constant reminder of the slave trade since that is where the slaves were kept pending their sale.

After independence, the Kenyan government took charge of the fort and even created a museum within its walls to preserve most of the historical artifacts and pieces that helped shape the history of this great nation.

The fort is now more than just a fort, it is an icon of history (a majestic one at that), a museum, a learning base and the greatest tourism attraction in the coastal region of Mombasa.

Stephen is a Kenyan-based tourism consultant who writes on tourism related issues. He is fond of nature, owns and operates a line of hotels and Villas in Diani beach. He recommends the Kenya's SouthCoast for a relaxing getaway at Diani Beach

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Kenyan Traditional African Dances

Music is an international language and with it comes a dance. Dancing is not uncommon in the Africa culture as it has over the years been used to mark the different special occasions and celebrations. There are 8 provinces in Kenya but five major regions. Each of these regions has a popular ethnic group with unique dancing styles; Northern Kenya, Western Kenya, Central, Coast and Eastern Kenya.

The Maasai Dances of Northern Kenya

The north is represented by the famous Maasai tribe. This ethnic community has managed to withstand the test of time and retained its rich traditions and attires. The Maasai have a distinct dance that involve making a circle and jumping up high. The women wear bead necklaces or shanga round their necks which they use to dance as they sing their traditional music. The beautiful colors of their shukas and beads combined with their mowhawk kind of hairstyles separates them from any other dancers in Kenya

Chakacha of Coastal kenya

Unlike the Maasai dances, coastal dances focus mainly on vigorous waist movements. Chakacha is a very popular dance amongst the coastal tribes and their music is usually traditional or Taarab. With Taarab music and dancing, the instrumentals take up most of the song giving both the dancers and the performers time to shake their waists and move their hands freely. The major difference between chakacha and Taarab is the tempo of the songs with chakacha being the faster kind of music.

Kamba Dances in the Eastern Province

The eastern province is synonymous with the Akamba people whose traditional dances involve shaking their shoulders while stamping their bare feet. Their music is usually accompanied by drum beats and flutes. Percussion instruments were used to accompany song and dance depending on the occasion or ceremony.

Mwomboko of Central Region

Central Kenya is famous for its hilly terrain and the great Mountain of God, Mount Kenya. The most populous tribe are the Agikuyu whose dances concentrated on foot and hand movements. The rythimic stamping of feet and sequential arm movements make up most of the dances in that area. Mwomboko is one of the most popular dances in that area and can be compared to a waltz or a slow paced salsa dance. The leg movements of both male and female are systematic and one missed step ruins the whole performance. This dance is one of the least vigorous dances in Kenya.

Isukuti in Western

It is with much vigor and passion that the people of western Kenya dance. They probably have the most energetic dances that combine all the other four dancing styles. Unlike the coastal people who shake their waists, or the people from central whose main focus is the feet, or the northerners who love to jump and the easterners who shake their shoulders, the people of western Kenya shake their whole body. Accompanied by the famous Isikuti drums and the karingaringa, a metallic circular instrument that is hit to produce sound, these people love to dance. They dance during all ceremonies, be it a funeral or a wedding. However their most colorful dances are performed during their annual circumcision ceremonies.

Each of the dances is performed on special occasions like initiation, marriage ceremonies or even funerals. They are easy to learn by observation and can be very entertaining.

Stephen is a Kenyan-based tourism consultant who writes on tourism related issues. He is fond of nature, owns and operates a line of hotels and Villas in Diani beach. He recommends the Kenya's SouthCoast for a relaxing getaway at Diani Beach

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Stephen_Putzker

You have read this article Adventure-Travel / Kenya with the title Kenya. You can bookmark this page URL https://timbuk2andtippycanoe.blogspot.com/2012/06/kenyan-traditional-african-dances.html. Thanks!