The Great History of Malindi Town - From the 13th - 19th Century

Why Malindi Town has Always Depended on Tourism for Economical Growth

History of Malindi

The first written reference to today's Malindi comes from Abu AlFida (1273-1313), a Kurdish geographer and historian.  According to him, Malindi is located South of the Galana River, which originates in Mount Kenya, then later the locals called it the Sabaki River. The 13th century was marked by the arrival of Arabs, which led to the birth of an Arab-African (Swahili) culture as visitors intermarried with the local population.  Therefore, Malindi has existed as a Swahili colony since at least the 13th century.

                                       

       Seafront, 1958 - Vintage photos

The Untold History of the Chinese Presence in Malindi

Once rivaled only by Mombasa for domination of the East African side, Malindi was traditionally a port city.  In 1417, according to Beijing scholars, the city was visited by a fleet of 40 ships led by Chinese explorer "Zheng He."  Malindi fascinated him and he stayed there for a long time, stopping over after other adventures at sea.

A historian, Wang Ming, describes the encounter with the Malindians as an unusual and peaceful event accompanied by a "surprise."  The ruler of Malindi sent a personal envoy with a giraffe as a gift to China on their fleet.

                            

   Painting showing Zheng He with his gift of a giraffe

Zheng He's trip to Kenya began his friendship with the locals. Unfortunately, Zeng He was the victim of a shipwreck on the Isle of Pate.  Legend has it that those who survived mingled with the locals, which led to the birth of a race, which the people of Lamu call "Wasanga."

To this day, the Chinese frequently visit Africa.  They do not come for cultural exchanges but to sell services and economically colonize consenting states.

What Everyone Ought to Know About the History of Portuguese in Malindi   

                           

 Painting showing Vasco da Gama talking to the Sultan of Malindi during his voyage to India.

The Portuguese presence in Malindi began with the arrival of the explorer Vasco Da Gama in 1498.  At that time, Malindi was a walled city of coral stones.

For most of the century, the Portuguese, Arabs, and Indians participated in the trade; this made the city one of the wealthiest and most prosperous towns on the coast.  They mainly exported ivory and rhino horns and agricultural products such as coconuts, oranges, millet, and rice. 

Vasco Da Gama then met with the authorities, signed a trade agreement, and hired a guide (experienced navigator, the Yemeni Ahmad Ibn Majid Ibn Muhammad Al-Saal'Jaddi Al-Najdi) for his trip to India.  Unlike the hostile reception he met in Mombasa, Vasco Da Gama received a protected reception from the Sheikh of Malindi.

In memory of his acceptance, he later erected a coral pillar topped with a cross that served as a reference for sailors.  The pillar still holds to this day, although many changes have been made to the area over the years. 

It is a popular tourist attraction for international tourists and locals alike.

 In 1499, the Portuguese established a trading post which was a refreshment point on their travels to and from India.  They were generally viewed as unwanted intruders by other cities due to their greed and harsh demeanor. 

Although the city derives from the Portuguese name Melinde, locals claim it comes from a Swahili name Mali Ndi which means "much wealth." 

It was extraordinary that the authorities of an ancient Muslim city allowed the construction of a church.

In 1509 the Portuguese established a factory that included a warehouse, houses, offices, and even a chapel in Malindi, which they abandoned in 1512.  The chapel with a cemetery was built when Francis Xavier visited the area. 

                                    

                  Portuguese chapel, present day

The city remained the center of Portuguese activity in East Africa until 1593 when the Portuguese retreated to their main base in Mombasa.  The Portuguese retreated after a Turkish mercenary on the coast led by the pirate Emir Ali Bey (Bey Mirale), who seized Faza, Pate, and Mombasa, Portuguese possessions.  Malindi did not escape the takeover either, although it escaped the looting.

Thanks to the wise captain, Mendes de Vasconcellos, who, during the night, installed two cannons on a sandy islet in the besieged city, giving the illusion that an army was bombarding the Turkish fleet; eventually, they withdrew.

Malindi was again attacked by the Wazimba tribe, a tribe of cannibals who had previously set Mombasa on fire.  Thanks to combined forces of the Portuguese and local tribes, they were defeated and driven out of the city.

In the 17th century, after the departure of the Portuguese, the city gradually declined until it almost disappeared. When Ludwig Kraph visited the city in 1845, it was overgrown and inhabited.

 

The Hard Truth on the History of Arabs in Malindi and How it Influenced The Growth of Malindi Town

Malindi was conquered by Sultan of Zanzibar, Major, in 1861, and it became the center of the slave trade, and its wealth increased between 1861 and 1890. The city was administered by Arab governors appointed by the Sultan of Zanzibar and supported by a garrison of thirty to one hundred and fifty Baluchi soldiers.

                                   

   Painting showing  how slaves were handled in East Africa

Later, in 1890, the city came under British administration and abolished the slave trade, and slavery abolished the slave trade and slavery.  The abolishment of the slave trade led to a massive decline in agricultural production, and the Arabs were ready to opt for the local salaried Africans. Apart from agriculture, there were few industries at the start of the twentieth century; these included crushing sesame seeds for oil, making mats, and producing a Swahili drink called Tembo. 

Officially, Malindi became a town in 1903, and ten years later, its population was approximately 1,148, including 8 Europeans, 67 Asians, 230 Arabs, and 843 Africans.

 

How the British Were Greatly Involved in the History Malindi

The Sultan of Zanzibar assigned his territories, which included the region of Malindi, to the British East Africa Association to act as its representatives.  So, in 1906 the new European groups started to plant and export a lot of rubber from the plantations.  It ended in 1917 when rubber prices fell due to overproduction in Malaysia.

Thus there were droughts and famines from 1925 to 1938, which led to a decline in agricultural production.  But cotton production increased dramatically until 1935 when cotton prices fell dramatically.  However, Malindi experienced a trade boom between World War I and 1925, when the famine occurred.

Returning to Malindi in the 1930s, the Europeans bought land from the Arabs.  Some of them, like Commander Lawford, opened the first hotels, which became the basis of the future of the tourism industry.  Mr. Pat Brady, a European resident, bought an old house built before 1915 by a European who owned a rubber plantation and transformed it into a hotel, Hotel Palm Beach, now Blue Merlin.

                        

      Palm Beach hotel - Vintage photos

During World War II, Malindi experienced tremendous economic development.  Unfortunately, Malindi was one of only two cities in East Africa bombed by the Italians; luckily, only part of the bombs went off.  The bombing happened on October 24, 1940, and Allied troops remained stationed in the city until the war ended. 

After World War II, at the end of 1944, tourists from the hinterland began to return, as the arm slowly retreated, and once again, Malindi returned to normal and turned into a seaside resort.  Many tourists on charter flights landed in Mombasa, and Malindi was back on the world map again. 

Today, Malindi is a popular tourist destination, primarily for its spectacular beaches, palm-fringed bays, ideal tropical climate, and the magical Indian Ocean.  The town has an airport and a highway between Mombasa and Lamu.  The town offers countless choices of upscale international hotels, restaurants, and all the amenities of a tourist destination.

                        

                 Sinbad hotel in 1970    

                      

                 Lawford hotel, present day     

                      
           Blue Marlin hotel, present day

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