Memories

With the kenyan coastal tourism stake holders.

I have noticed many people posting memories on Factebook, memories of better times. I’ve done the same myself. This really has been a year, but there will be memories, good, bad, emotional, different! I’ve learned a lot about myself this year. I’ve also learned to appreciate the simple things in life we normally overlook. I’ve learned to be kinder and more patient especially during this covid-19 epidemic times. I remember when times were good you could share time with friends anytime no matter the number.

Upto the Covid-19 outbreak every year this time was the mombasa music and street food festival where specialist street in Kenya coastal town of mombasa were full of fun loving people to experience Street food and music especially from Coast . Mishikakis, Chicken kababs, shawarmas and even fresh juice,cassava and many more coastal foods.. Across the Ferry to south coast every year during December holidays there was Shelly beach Festival. This music festival takes place every year during December holidays.

Shelly beach Music Festival December 2019 was the last music festival I have been to in likoni and it was great. It was very different from any music festivals I have been t in Mombasa that are normally in muddy fields where it rains! This music festival was in a big sports arena that was transformed into a concert venue for the week.

The crown being intertained (2019)

The favourite act that I saw was the Dancing competition and Older version of Live band, This band produced a lot of music when I was a teenager so it was great to relive some happy memories from when I was younger. The band Master and his music is in swahili and English, all of his songs are very upbeat and happy, they are great to dance to! Another act that I enjoyed seeing was one by Radio KAYA FM crew which is a local Kenyan Coast FM station. I do not normally listen to the type of music their Dj plays, but he created a great atmosphere and drowned out the arena with their catchy and loud songs. The music festival was full of young and old people, it was great to see such a varied audience. Music fstivals are normally attended by young adults.

The day after the music festival I woke up exhausted from all the dancing and I was also still covered in glitter which one of the acts had sprayed at the audience during performance. I am very glad that I got to experience a music festival and it is definitely in my top ten best experiences of things I have done in the past. There were lots of different types of music at the festival and it was great to listen to new music and experience another side of festive culture

Radio KAYA crew on stage

This time last year we were complaining about crowded stores as we tried to buy gifts. We miss those crowded stores now, along with their Christmas music (that starts at Thanksgiving).
Enjoy the version of Christmas we have and next year, when we’re able to see our families again, this will be a memory. Make the best of it!

Shelly beach festival.With the Days Mc , Fred Okubasu- CEO, peacock media

Take care and stay safe. This too will pass.

jahazi coffee house

Now as we entered jahazi Coffee House my imagination was totally wrong. The entrance and reception was friendly and cool Arabic set up. Few tables available. But the receptionist or the waiter(I couldn’t tell) was fast to usher us in a cubicle where you sit on a mat. To my surprise this is the style in here ,Small cubicles with a feel of casual Swahili sitting on cushions and Mats. Real fun.

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As a Sunday today it reminds me of a few sundays back. I was walking along the street to go home from fort Jesus in Mombasa. This evening i stopped at the street vendor to buy roasted corn, or mahindi choma as kenyans called it. (The corn is fantastic. It is grilled over a small charcoal fire and sold extremely hot.) . To my surprise, I heard someone calling my name as I was buying the corn. I turned around to see who is calling me , and to my suprise it was my friend salim holding corn behind me. I met salim in fort jesus a few weeks ago. He is a goood friend working as a tour guide within fort jesus area in mombasa. It was a total surprise to see him after a long time.He told me that he has waiting for some visitors who he was to take them for a walk around old town, So I walked almost an hour with him from here to the alleys of old town which he seems to know very well. Salim was born and raised in Mombasa old town, so it was very special to hear about the city from his perspective.As we strolled biting our roasted maize ,I asked him if we could get a joint /an eatery within where we could sit and talk. He suggested a coffee house next to the old port,Jahazi Coffee House.

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We were presented with the menu . Though the choices were limited but were satisfying. Exotic Arabic cuisine , kahawa nthungu(espresso like coffee scented with spices) ,banjias, viazi karai accompanied by chutneys like ukwaju(tamarind) pilipili(chillies). The Main course we had Biriyani ya mbuzi and we finished with halua and kahawa nthungu as they call it.

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Now the story behind Jahazi Coffee House am told is a centre -a meeting place to exchange thoughts and beliefs. It is a creative culture and intellectual place where young,old,rich and poor,locals and visitors relax and enjoy a meal as they engage in dialogue.It is set to promote Arab/swahili culture.What interests me is the fact that Jahazi is Part of Darul-Salaam (An NGO) which is meant to offer mentorship to the lives of the youth of Old town along with their families. Also to mentor and counsel drug addicts.

So the profit made at Jahazi Coffee House goes back into the programs of Darul-Salaam. So remember by having that cup of Coffee you are helping many youth across.. Happy Visit To Jahazi Coffee House.

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