Art, music, theater and more in Mombasa

A historically cultural port city, the city of Mombasa boasts a unique mix of culture developed through centuries of contacts with local and foreign cultures encompassing colorful clothing, magnificent Swahili delicacies, modern and traditional sports, music and dance, and arts and crafts. handicrafts.

The indigenous people of Mombasa are collectivist by nature, and as a result, they engage in various cultural activities as a means of not only spending their free time, but also enhancing their social bonding and sense of community.

Art in Mombasa

Museums and art galleries

Diani Beach Art Gallery

Located less than 45 minutes from the city center in Diani Beach, the gallery is an ideal meeting point for art enthusiasts.

• It offers a variety of contemporary Kenyan and African artwork, including paintings, surreal creations that come in all sizes, photography, and sculpture that is finely finished.

• There are also art classes and theme nights.

Strong Jesus

An Italian fortress built in the 16th century by the Portuguese to guard the entrance to the port, Fort Jesus is an architectural wonder. made in the form of a man that currently evidences the political and economic history of the city of Mombasa.

• Strong Jesus is a UNESCO World Heritage site which exhibits various artifacts from the different local and foreign cultures that have occupied the island over the centuries, from the Arabs and Indians to the Omanis, Persians and Portuguese.

• Currently used as a museum, Fort Jesus displays preserved military fortifications, pottery and ceramics, and relics from a Portuguese frigate that sank in 1698.

• If you want to learn a thing or two about preserving ancient artifacts, Fort Jesus has a fully equipped education unit and conservation lab.

Center for Heritage Development in Africa (CHDA)

A gallery located downtown in the Old Law Courts Building along Nkrumah Road, CHDA has well-preserved cultural artifacts that enhance Africa’s cultural heritage.

• Most of the artifacts preserved here are movable or immovable.

Gede Ruins National Monument and Museum

An officially published national monument and museum, the Gede Ruins are a centuries-old Swahili village that was established in the 12th century and is today covered in a splendid indigenous forest cover comprising of tamarind and giant baobab trees.

• It is located along the Mombasa-Malindi highway, 94 km north of the city.

• The ruins feature narrow, winding paths and more than fifty species of exotic trees.

• In addition to offering a serene and tranquil environment, the ruins are home to a variety of birds of malachite kingfisher and African Harrier Hawks to Paradise flycatchers and African green-tinkerbird, etc.

• The ruins offer a rare insight into the exciting Swahili culture.

Gallery of the Arts of the Coast

Located along Nyali Links road, Coast Gallery of Arts quenches your thirst for authentic, handcrafted picture frames adorned with African designs and made from local materials.

It is an ideal place to get unique gift items and African artwork.

Cinemas

Nyali Cinemax

It’s ultra-modern Cinemax that is the latest addition to film culture in the city showing the latest box office releases.

Located in Nyali, less than 30 minutes from the city center

lotus cinema

Located in the center of Mombasa city along Makadara Rd, Lotus Cinema offers a diverse set of entertainment

Kenyan cinema

Located just minutes from the Lotus Cinema along Nkrumah Road

Other movie theaters and cinema includes

• Moons Cinema-Tononoka Wajir Road

• Indo African Theaters Ltd-Makadara Road

casinos

A growing culture among the middle and upper class in Mombasa, going to the casino is taking root as a cultural activity in the city where people spend their free time, connect with friends and win/lose a coin while doing it.

Major casinos include

• Nyali Beach Hotel Casino

• golden key casino

• florida beach casino

• the royal casino

Music

Music is an important cultural activity in Mombasa and is used to express oneself. People enjoy their music, especially taarab (local music genre).

• Numerous music and dance clubs clustered in the city.

• Live music concerts and music bands

sports

A cultural activity, sport takes a considerable part in the lives of the locals.

• Both older and younger men play games such as “draft” (chess) on wooden boards.

• Diving, boat racing, banana boat rides and kitesurfing, etc., are some of the different water sports practiced by the city given its ideal location and proximity to the Indian Ocean.

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