Malindi

Malindi is a town in Kenya with about 70,000 inhabitants. It lies about a hundred kilometers north of Mombasa on the Indian Ocean coast.

History

Malindi was an ancient city of the Islamic Swahili culture. A settlement is mentioned several times in Arabic sources, but Arabic and Chinese potsherds were only from the 14th century have been found. It remains a mosque from the 15th century were excavated, two decorated with Chinese porcelain plates pillar tombs of the same period are facing a new mosque.

1414 visited the Chinese expedition of Admiral Zheng He Malindi and the local rulers sent envoys to China. 1498 Gama was the Portuguese navigator Vasco da at Malindi on land and took his pilots here for the onward journey to India on board. Da Gama's meeting with the King of Malindi was decorated in the Portuguese national epic The Lusiads. In the aftermath Malindi formed an alliance with Portugal, not least in order to win support in the dispute with the neighboring city of Mombasa and rival. For the Portuguese Malindi was the important base between Mozambique and Goa. The alliance with the Portuguese declined in importance, since this 1593 with the Fort Jesus moved their main base to Mombasa.

In the aftermath Malindi lost constantly in importance and fell into disrepair. Only in the 19th century, there was renewed interest in Malindi after the focus of the Omani empire had shifted because of the relocation of the court from Oman to Zanzibar on the East African coast. Arab families put on by slaves managed plantations in Malindi, which gave the city a new lease. In the British colonial period, it was discovered as a beach, which has become the foundation for his rise as a tourist destination.

Besides tourism, the people of Malindi on fisheries, cotton and Sisalverarbeitung and trading live. The airport of Malindi is to be extended for international flights.

1968, the Malindi Marine National Park was established in the coastal region in the south of the city. To Malindi around the Italian coastal tourism in Kenya, which was known among other things, the major investments of Italian sports manager Flavio Briatore concentrated. Malindi has long been used as money wash the Mafia. For living in the city the only Italian community consulate was established.

Attractions

  • Ancient City of Gedi: 14th to 16th century, 15 kilometers south
  • Malindi Marine National Park ( Underwater world, coral reefs )
  • Portuguese church
  • Vasco da Gama stone cross
  • Village Mambu
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