Mombasa's location on the Indian Ocean made it a historical trading centre,[4] and it has been controlled by many countries because of its strategic location. Kenyan school history books place the founding of Mombasa as 900 A.D.[5] It must have been already a prosperous trading town in the 12th century, as the Arab geographeral-Idrisi mentions it in 1151. It was a part of theKilwa Sultanate from approximately the early 14th century until the dissolution of the sultanate in 1513 A.D. The oldest stone mosque in Mombasa, Mnara, was builtc. 1300. The Mandhry Mosque, built in 1570, has a minaret that contains a regionally specificogee arch. The city later came under the occupation and control of theOmani Empire in the late 17th century.
In the late pre-colonial period, it was the metropolis of a plantation society, which became dependent on slave labour based around the ivory trade. Throughout the early modern period, Mombasa was a key node in the complex and far reaching Indian Ocean trading networks. Its key exports then were ivory,millet,sesamum andcoconuts.
The founding of Mombasa is associated with two rulers: Mwana Mkisi and Shehe Mvita. According to legend, Mwana Mkisi is the original ancestor of Mombasa's oldest lineages withinThenashara Taifa (or Twelve Nations). Families associated with the Twelve Nations are still considered the original inhabitants of the city. Mwana Mkisi was a queen from the pre-Islamic era, who founded Kongowea, the original urban settlement on Mombasa Island.
Significantly, the names of both the queen and the city have linguistic and spiritual connections withCentral Africa. "Mkisi" is considered the personification of"ukisi", which means "the holy" inkiKongo. "Kongowea" can similarly be interpreted as the Swahili locative of"kongo", which denotes the essence of civilizational order in central Africa. These legends can be read as an acknowledgement of theBantu-speaking origins of theSwahili people.
Shehe Mvitaff superseded the dynasty of Mwana Mkisi and established the first permanent stone mosque on Mombasa Island. Mombasa's oldest extant stone mosque, Mnara, was built c. 1300. Shehe Mvita is remembered as a Muslim of great learning and so is connected more directly with the present ideals of Swahili culture that people identify with Mombasa. The ancient history associated with Mwana Mkisi and Shehe Mvita and the founding of an urban settlement on Mombasa Island is still linked to present-day peoples living in Mombasa. The Thenashara Taifa (or Twelve Nations) Swahili lineages recount this ancient history today and are the keepers of local Swahili traditions.[6]
Most of the early information on Mombasa comes from the writings ofPortuguese chroniclers in the 16th century.
The famous Moroccan scholar and travellerIbn Battuta (1304 – 1368/1369) visited the area during his travels to theSwahili Coast. He noted the city, although he stayed only one night. He wrote that the people of Mombasa wereShafi'i Muslims, religious people, trustworthy and righteous. Their mosques were made of wood, expertly built.[7]
During the pre-modern period, Mombasa was an important centre for the trade in spices, gold, andivory. Its trade links reached as far as India and China. Oral historians today can still recount this period of local history. Indian history shows that there were trade links between Mombasa andCholas ofSouth India. Throughout the early modern period, Mombasa was a key node in the complex and far-reaching Indian Ocean trading networks. Its key exports were ivory,millet,sesamum andcoconuts.
Ivory caravans remained a major source of economic prosperity. Mombasa became the major port city of pre-colonial Kenya in the Middle Ages and was used to trade with other African port cities, thePersian Empire, the Arabian Peninsula, India and China.[9]
"[Mombasa] is a place of great traffic and has a good harbour in which there are always moored small craft of many kinds and also great ships, both of which are bound fromSofala and others which come fromCambay andMelinde and others which sail to the island ofZanzibar."[10]
Mombasa was underPortuguese rule from 1593 to 1698 and again from 1728 to 1729. Portuguese presence in Kenya lasted from 1498 until 1730.
Vasco da Gama was the first known European to visit Mombasa, receiving a chilly reception in 1498.[11] Two years later, the town was sacked by the Portuguese. In 1502, thesultanate became independent fromKilwa Kisiwani and was renamed as Mvita (inSwahili) or Manbasa (Arabic).
ThePortuguese had since had encounters with the city several times; first underFrancisco de Almeida in 1505, later underAfonso de Albuquerque in 1522 to quell an attempted mutiny by the sultan's nephew in Pemba and Zanzibar, and finally the destruction of the city underNuno da Cunha again in 1528 after the Malindi sultan failed to paytribute.[12]
In 1585, a military expedition of theOttoman Empire, led by Emir 'Ali Bey, successfully captured Mombasa, and other coastal cities in Southeast Africa from the Portuguese.[13] However,Malindi remained loyal to Portugal. The Zimba overcame the towns of Sena and Tete on the Zambezi, and in 1587 they tookKilwa, killing 3,000 people. At Mombasa, the Zimba slaughtered the Muslim inhabitants, but they were halted at Malindi by the Bantu-speakingSegeju and went home. This stimulated the Portuguese to take over Mombasa a third time in 1589, and four years later they built Fort Jesus to administer the region. Between Lake Malawi and the Zambezi mouth, Kalonga Mzura made an alliance with the Portuguese in 1608 and fielded 4,000 warriors to help defeat their rival Zimba, who were led by chief Lundi.
After the building ofFort Jesus, Mombasa was put by the Portuguese under the rule of members of the ruling family of Malindi. In 1631Dom Jeronimo, the ruler of Mombasa, slaughtered the Portuguese garrison in the city and defeated the relief force sent by the Portuguese. In 1632 Dom Jeronimo left Mombasa and became a pirate. That year the Portuguese returned and established direct rule over Mombasa.[14]
With thecapture of Fort Jesus in 1698, the town came under the influence of theImamate of Oman, subordinate to the Omani rulers on the island ofUnguja, prompting regular local rebellions. Oman appointed three consecutive Governors (Wali in Arabic,Liwali inSwahili):
12 December 1698 – December 1698: Imam Sa'if ibn Sultan
December 1698 – 1728: Nasr ibn Abdallah al-Mazru'i
1728–12 March 1728: Shaykh Rumba
Mombasa was briefly returned to Portuguese rule by captain-major Álvaro Caetano de Melo Castro (12 March 1728 – 21 September 1729), then four new Omani Liwali until 1746, when the last of them made it independent again (disputed by Oman), as the first of its recorded Sultans:
1746–1755: 'Ali ibn Uthman al-Mazru'i
1755–1773: Masud ibn Nasr al-Mazru'i
1773–1782: Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mazru'i
1782–1811: Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Mazru'i (born 17–died 1814)
1812–1823: 'Abdallah ibn Ahmad al-Mazru'i (died 1823)
1823–1826: Sulayman ibn 'Ali al-Mazru'i
C. 1953 – A newly constructed East African Railways Beyer Garratt locomotive being unloaded at Mombasa
From 9 February 1824 to 25 July 1826, there was aBritishprotectorate over Mombasa, represented by governors. Omani rule was restored in 1826; sevenliwalis where appointed. On 24 June 1837, it was nominallyannexed bySaid bin Sultan ofMuscat and Oman.
On 25 May 1887 Mombasa was relinquished to the British East Africa Association, later theImperial British East Africa Company. It came under British administration in 1895.[15]It soon became the capital of theBritish East Africa Protectorate and the sea terminal of theUganda Railway, construction of which was started in 1896. Many workers were brought in fromBritish India to build the railway, and the city's fortunes revived. TheSultan of Zanzibar formally presented the town to the British in 1898.
Mombasa became the capital of theKenya Colony Protectorate of Kenya, sometime between 1887 and around 1906.[16] The capital was later moved because medical officers warned that the ground was swampy, and urged SirJames Hayes Sadler, then Commissioner of the East Africa Protectorate, to plead with London to move the town elsewhere to mitigate potential disease.Nairobi has since been Kenya's capital to date.[17]
TheMombasa tusks, one of the city's best-known monuments, were originally constructed in 1952 by the British administration of theKenya Colony, commemorating the visit ofQueen Elizabeth II to the city.[18][19]
In 2018, as part of an effort to increase tourism, Mombasa County Governor Hassan Joho issued a directive requiring that all buildings in the Old Town and the Central Business District be painted white withEgyptian blue trim and banned all signs from their walls or canopies. Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works County Executive Tawfiq Balala stated that the city wanted to be "the most photographed in Africa".[20]
Being acoastal town, Mombasa is characterised by a flat topography. The town of Mombasa is centred onMombasa Island, but extends to the mainland. The island is separated from the mainland by twocreeks,Port Reitz in the south andTudor Creek in the north.
Mombasa has atropical wet and dry climate (Köppen:As;Trewartha:Asha). The amount of rainfall essentially depends on the season. The rainiest months are April and May, while rainfall is minimal between January and February.
Located near the equator, Mombasa has only a slight seasonal temperature variation, with high temperatures ranging 28.8–33.7 °C (83.8–92.7 °F).
As a seaport, Mombasa is subject to detrimental consequences of a fluctuating climate. In October 2006, Mombasa experienced a large flood that affected 60,000 people.[21]
Like the rest of Kenya, climate change is already creating challenges for the city:coastal erosion has become a problem for infrastructure in Mombasa. Due torising sea levels, the coastline has been eroding at 2.5–20 cm (0.98–7.87 in) per year. This has increased the number of annual floods.[21]
Climate data for Mombasa (1961–1990, extremes 1890–present)
Renovated Mama Ngina DriveTudor, MombasaMoonlight view from MombasaOld Town across Mombasa Harbour
Kizingo: Considered the prime residential area of Mombasa. The State House of Mombasa, Provincial Headquarters, The Mombasa Law Courts, and the Municipal Council are located in Kizingo. The Aga Khan Academy, Aga Khan High School, Serani Primary School, Serani High School, Santokben Nursery School, Coast Academy, Jaffery Academy, Mombasa Primary School, Loreto Convent, Mama Ngina Girls' High School and the Government Training Institute (GTI) Mombasa are all in Kizingo as well.
Central Business District: The Mombasa central business district across the TSS building roundabout, Moi Avenue, and Nyerere Avenue is densely populated. Organizations such as the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) and businesses such as Banks (ABSA, I&M Ltd, Bank of India Ltd), Insurance Firms (Nomura Insurance Brokers, Masumali Meghji Insurance), and Audit Firms (Anant Bhatt LLP, Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, Mazars LLP, Deloitte LLP, and PKF LLP) are located here.
Kibokoni: Part of Old Town with Swahili architecture. Fort Jesus is in Baghani.
Englani: Part of Old town between Kibokoni and Makadara.
Kuze: Part of Old Town with Swahili culture and architecture. Originally flourishing withSwahili people but becoming a more cosmopolitan neighbourhood.
Makadara: Part of Old Town consisting of a high number of descendants ofBaluchi former soldiers who settled within this area before it developed into a town. The name is derived from the Arabic words "Qadru r-Rahman" meaning "Decree of (God) the Merciful".
Ganjoni: Primarily a middle class residential area, home of second biggest dry dock of Africa after the one in South Africa.
Seafront of Nyali Beach, north coast (from the Voyager Resort).
Nyali, also considered a prime and up-market residential area, it is on the mainland north of the island and is linked by theNew Nyali Bridge. It has numerous beach front hotels in the area known as the "North Coast". Nyali has two distinct sections – the upmarket Old Nyali and the upcoming New Nyali. For many residents, Nyali has now become a self-contained residential area, with twoNakumatts, a multiplex cinema, shopping malls, banks, schools and post offices. This often eliminates the need for residents to cross the bridge and to go into the congested Mombasa city centre. Nyali is home for the Nyali Cinemax complex, Mamba Village, the Nyali Golf Club, and some of the most prestigious academic institutions of the Coast Province.
Kongowea is a densely populated area with 15 villages, two sub-locations and an estimated population of 106,180 residents.[26] Kongowea is a cosmopolitan settlement mainly inhabited by people from mainland who migrated into the city in search of employment, mainly in service and manufacturing sector. The area is adjacent to the rich suburb of Nyali which employs a portion of the village residents. They are mainly hired as cheap labour as watchmen, gardeners, masons for up coming houses and house help. The most well known villages inside Kongowea include Kisumu Ndogo, Shauri Yako and Mnazi Mmoja, despite being located in this prime area, many residents live under extreme conditions – poor sanitation, high crime rate and lack of basic essential amenities like schools, hospitals and tap water. Kongowea is also home to one of the largest open-air markets in the African Great Lakes.
Bamburi is an outlying township (fifteen minutes drive) along the Malindi road. It is home toBamburi Cement factory, the largest cement plant in the East African region. Other notable features in the area are the Jomo Kenyatta public beach, commonly known as Pirates, andHaller Park, a nature trail and wildlife conservatory. Kiembeni Estate, also in the Bamburi area, hosts around 100,000 residents. The estate has its own supermarket, several retail shops, salons and boutiques, and a number of licensed drinking dens. The establishments include The Shilla Bar, Turkey Base, Stars Garden and Sensera pub. Kiembeni is arguably the largest estate in Mombasa, and growing even faster.
Other areas include,Shanzu, Mkomani,Bombolulu,Kisauni and, across the Mtwapa creek, the popular area ofMtwapa,[27] which is already located in Kilifi county.
The North Coast has an entertainment industry which attracts locals and tourists.
Likoni: is a lower income and lower-middle-class neighbourhood connected to Mombasa Island by ferry. It is south of Mombasa Island and is made up of mostly Swahili and non-Swahili Bantu tribes. The ferry was the target of the Likoni Riots of 1997. TheLiwatoni Pedestrian Floating Bridge was built and designed to ease pressure on the Likoni ferry crossing by taking up most of the foot traffic, leaving the ferries to serve vehicular and cargo crossing betweenMombasa Island and the South Coast.[28]
Diani Beach: a beach resort area situated over the Likoni Ferry on the south coast of Mombasa.[29] It is located some 36 km (22 miles) south of Mombasa city on the mainland coast and is a prime resort for many local and international tourists. Diani Beach has an airport at Ukunda town to cater for tourists who fly there directly from Nairobi Wilson or any other airports and airfields in the country.
Among the many sellers and vendors along Mombasa's beaches, this man walked up and down all day hoping for tourists looking for camel rides.
Magongo: is an outlying township 20 minutes driving distance northwest of Mombasa Island, situated on the Nairobi Highway. This fringe community lacks any effective electricity, water or sewer systems, with a general lack of infrastructure. Poverty, lack of sanitation, and unemployment continue to be the greatest issues for the Mikindani Township, which have ensured low health and safety standards for its residents. Poor, lower class housing is widespread, ranging from simple stone, two-storey structures to mud and earth homes fitted with corrugated iron roofs. Much of the community works outside of the township, within Mombasa Island itself as there is a lack of employment and industry. There are a number of small health clinics, shops, and a few public primary schools: Nazarene primary is one school, which is known in particular as being staffed by a revolving volunteer teacher base from Western, and predominately English speaking nations. This small town serves as a link between the city and Moi International Airport. Magongo is also home to the Akamba Handicraft Cooperative.
Mikindani, a suburban area: This is an outlying township on the mainland along the Nairobi Highway. It is built in the heavy industrial sections ofChangamwe and mainly accommodate the working class who either work in the industries, the town centre on the Island and the Port at Kilindini harbour.[30]
Miritini: outlying township on the Mombasa Nairobi Highway which is first growing as a suburban area.
Changamwe: Industrial area which contains the Kipevu power generation projects, the Kenya Oil Refinery Company facility and housing estates such as Chaani and is the gateway to the Moi International Airport. The area has administrative offices of the D.O and the chiefs who serve the administrative division.[31]
Migadini &Chaani: They are two adjacent estate that are located east of Airport road and east ofKenya Port Authority. They are bordered by Port Reitz, Magongo and KPA
Mombasa city has a population of 1,208,333[1] per the 2019 census.
Mombasa has a cosmopolitan population, with theSwahili people andMijikenda predominant. Other communities include theAkamba andTaitaBantus as well as a significant population ofLuo andLuhya. Gusii, Agikuyu, peoples from Western Kenya. The major religions practised in the city are Christianity and Islam.[33] Over the centuries, many immigrants and traders have settled in Mombasa, particularly from the Middle East.
Downtown MombasaBiashara Street, MombasaThe Market Hall in Mombasa, Kenya, where especially spices are sold.A logo ofMombasa Cement Ltd (MCL), a large cement company in Mombasa that provides thousands of jobs to locals.
Mombasa is an important economic centre in Kenya. In addition to the coffee trade, the food and chemical industries, there is a steel mill, an aluminum rolling mill, an oil refinery and a cement plant. The city is home to the most important seaport in East Africa,Kilindini Harbour, which is also used by the neighbouring countries Tanzania and Uganda for their imports and exports.[citation needed]
Kilindini is an old Swahili term meaning "deep". The port is so-called because the channel is naturally very deep. Kilindini Harbour is an example of a natural geographic phenomenon called aria, formed at the end of thelast glacial period when the sea level rose and engulfed a river that was flowing from the mainland.[citation needed]
Mombasa is a centre of coastal tourism in Kenya. Mombasa Island itself is not a main attraction, although many people visit the Old Town andFort Jesus. TheNyali,Bamburi, andShanzu beaches are located north of the city. TheShelly,Tiwi, andDiani beaches are located south of Mombasa. Several luxury hotels exist on these beaches, while the less expensive hotels are located further away.[citation needed]
Mombasa's northern shoreline is renowned for its vibrant 24-hour entertainment offers, including both family entertainment (water parks, cinemas,bowling, etc.), sports (watersports,mountain biking andgokarting), culinary offers (restaurants offering a wide range of specialties from Kenya, China, Japan, India, Italy, Germany and other countries) and nightlife (bars, pubs, clubs, discothèques, etc.).[citation needed]
Other local industries include anoil refinery with a capacity of 80,000 barrels (13 ML) a day,[34] and a cement factory capable of producing over 1.1 million tons per year.[35] The major intercontinental undersea telecom cables reach shore next to Mombasa, connecting theAfrican Great Lakes to the rest of the world and supporting a fast-growingcall centre business in the area. The estimated real GDP growth for Kenya in 2016 is 5.7-6.0%. This growth will be in response to the construction of a railway system from Nairobi to Mombasa which will aid in trade and transportation between Kenya's two major cities.[36]
Mombasa will become a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in which certain industries such as tea, garments, and footwear will be exempt from certain taxes to promote domestic growth. This is in response to the deficiencies in Export Processing Zones (EPZ).[36]
The Kenyan Dock Worker's Union is situated in Mombasa and has roughly 5,000 members.[36]
President Kenyatta has made it a priority to deepen economic ties with Asia at the onset of his presidency. Japan has played a role in financially sponsoring the expansion of the Mombasa port in phase one and two of the expansion project.[36]
At 44%, the rate of youth unemployment in Mombasa is more than double the national average of 21% (2016).[37]
Moi International Airport is located in the city of Mombasa, and is the second largest airport in Kenya with daily flights to Nairobi and other Kenyan, European and Middle Eastern destinations.[38] The airport also handles a large amount of air cargo through its freight terminal.[39]
Mombasa TerminusNairobi-Mombasa HighwayMombasa port
Mombasa has a modern railway station on theMombasa–Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway that replaced thenarrow-gaugeUganda Railway completed in 1901 under British colonial rule.[40] Completed in 2017 and located atMiritini, theMombasa Terminus station links Mombasa to Nairobi. The station, situated about 20 kilometres from the city centre, is accessible through the newly built (2018) highway, being the first phase of the Dongo Kundu bypass.Kenya Railways transports passengers and cargo through the Standard Gauge Railway between Nairobi to Mombasa.[41]
Driving in Mombasa is straightforward and the majority of the roads are tarmacked. TheMombasa–Nairobi Expressway connects Mombasa to the capital city Nairobi.[42]
Within Mombasa, most local people usematatus (mini-buses) which are extremely common in Kenya, to move around the city and its suburbs. Thetuk-tuk—a motor vehicle with three wheels—is widely used as transport around the city and its suburbs. No more than three passengers may be carried. Aboda-boda is originally a bicycle taxi but have long since been replaced by motorcycles.[43]
The port of Mombasa is the largest in East Africa, with 19deep water berths with two additional berths nearing completion and twooil terminals.[44] The port is connected by rail and road to the interior.[44] At present[when?] there is little or no scheduled passenger service from the port, however, international cruise ships frequent the port. The port is part of the21st Century Maritime Silk Road that runs from the Chinese coast to the Upper Adriatic region. In connection with the Silk Road Initiative, China has started infrastructure development projects in Kenya and is building roads, railways and public buildings on credit.[45][46][47][48][49][50][51]
There is no bridge between Mombasa Island and the south coast, instead the route is served byferries operated by the Kenya Ferry Service from Kilindini and Mtongwe toLikoni in the south coast of Mombasa. The last major accident occurred in 1994 when a ferry serving Mtongwe route sank killing more than 270 people.[52]
As a result of the increase in more luxurious hotels along the south coast and a lack of a direct bridge linking with Mombasa island, visiting tourists have the option of flying directly from Nairobi into the South Coast airstrip at Ukunda.
TheDongo Kundu Bypass Highway is under construction (as at 20128). With a total of three bridges, it will finally connect the mainland to the south coast easing the burden on the ferry services.Mombasa Gate Bridge will connect the mainland to Likoni, this will eliminate the usage of the unsafe ferry which has claimed hundreds of lives.
Many Hindus visit Mombasa to pray at a number of naturally formedLingam that have formed in theNyali beach Gombeshwar Caves. According to local folklore, the cave-temple was found a long time ago when a group of local herders were puzzled after they noticed that one of their cows regularly released all of her milk at a specific yet random spot on the hills. They are then said to have approached some Hindu families living in the area to ask if they had any idea behind the strange behaviour by the cow. The group then teamed up, made their way to the spot and started digging. That is how they ended up stumbling into the cave where they found a 'ShivaLingam' – an abstract representation of the Hindu God Lord Shiva, whose vehicle isNandi (mythology). Hindus worship Lord Shiva by offering milk to aLingam.[57]
Other places of worship within Mombasa include theSikh Shree Guru Gobind Singh Sabha Temple and the Shree Parshva VallabhJain Temple.
A major cultural hub inKenya and theAfrican Great Lakes, Mombasa's proximity toZanzibar,Nairobi and theIndian subcontinent, as well as its large shipping and maritime industries gives it a diverse mosaic of cultures.Music is a main feature of Mombasa's culture.
Taarab music, which originates fromZanzibar, has a prominent local presence.[58] Styles of music native to Mombasa include the smooth and mellowBango, fast-pacedChakacha and traditionalMwanzele.
Recently,hip hop,reggae,soul,blues,salsa and (among the Indian community)bhangra have become popular, especially amongst the youth. Mombasa is mainly a tourism centre populated by hundreds of entertainment spots of all categories from night clubs, bars, hotels, fancy restaurants and many more. It has the most vibrant night life in Kenya catering to the mainly tourist population.
Mombasa is represented in theKenyan Premier League byBandari F.C., which plays at the Mbaraki Sports Grounds. Also, the Congo United FC, Promoted and dropped in 2011, are in the second tier Nationwide Super League with 4 other hometown clubs –Admiral F.C.; Magongo Rangers; Sparki Youth and Coast United.[59] Derbies between Mombasa teams have become intriguing affairs recently.[60] Another team,Coast Stars, were relegated several years ago from the league. The only Mombasa-based team to win the league isFeisal F.C., the 1965 champions. Kiziwi leopards was a popular team in the 1980s as was Mombasa Wanderers decades before. There are several cricket teams in Mombasa; one isMombasa Sports Club (MSC), whose ground was givenODI status in 2006. MSC has also arugby union team playing in theKenya Cup League, the premier rugby competition in Kenya. Mvita XI men and MSC ladies represent Mombasa in Kenyan field hockey leagues.
Mombasa is represented in the nationwide rugby league by Mombasa RFC. The city is also host to a leg of the national rugby sevens circuit, being one of only six city hosts. The Mombasa leg is referred to as the Driftwood sevens, and the annual tournament is extremely popular, attracting thousands of fans from across the country.
Mombasa is the subject of the popular song and music video of the same name, "Mombasa" byJabali Afrika feat.Jason Dunford aka Samaki Mkuu released on July 17, 2020.[71]
In the filmOut of Africa, Mombasa is the train destination as the seaport for voyages to Europe via theSuez Canal, and Mombasa is indicated as downriver ("This water must go home to Mombasa").
Mombasa is featured inPaul Schrader's 2014 filmDying of the Light as the hiding place of terrorist Muhammad Banir. It is also a prominent setting in Schrader's 2017 re-cut version,Dark.
A futuristic Mombasa is a pivotal setting in the popularHalo franchise, with much ofHalo 2,Halo 3, and all ofHalo 3: ODST taking place in the city. The games are set in the year 2552 and Mombasa serves as the capital of the fictional East African Protectorate. The city is amegalopolis divided into "Old Mombasa" and "New Mombasa," filled with immense skyscrapers and anorbital elevator. New Mombasa is the main battleground of theCovenant's invasion of Earth, as they focus their campaign in and around the city in search of a massive, technologically advancedForerunner artifact buried nearby. Old Mombasa is largely destroyed by "glassing" (bombarded byplasma until melted) during the battle and excavation process; it likely is glassed again shortly after (along with much of modern-dayKenya andTanzania) during the events ofHalo 3. Reconstruction efforts begin at some point afterHalo 3. More recently, New Mombasa has appeared as the setting of theHalo: Infinite multiplayer maps "Bazaar" and "Streets".
Mombasa is featured in the 2010 movie,Inception, where Cobb meets Eames and Yusuf before the job takes place.
In the US, theWalt Disney World resort recreated aKenyan village in the Africa section of theDisney's Animal Kingdom theme park named "Harambe", which is modelled after Mombasa. The village features a store called the "Mombasa Marketplace".[73]
In the Indian movieMr. India, Mombasa is mentioned in the popular song "Hawa Hawaii".[74]
The Indian Bollywood movie Company was partly shot in Mombasa.
Most of the events in the 2017 story "Consummation in Mombasa" (byAndrei Gusev) take place in Mombasa and in the nearest districtMtwapa.[75][76][77]
Popular blackgaze bandDeafheaven titled the last song of its 2021 album,Infinite Granite, with the name of the city. The lyrics make reference to the beaches and general uplifting scenery of Mombasa.
InThe Thief and the Cobbler,Richard Williams' unfinished movie, the antagonist Zigzag brings King Nod "a plaything from far south of Gaza, a bountiful maiden from Mombasa" at the beginning of the film.
^abKebede, A.S.; Nicholls, R.J.; Hanson, S.; Mokrech, M. "Impacts of Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: A Preliminary Case Study of Mombasa, Kenya".Journal of Coastal Research.
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