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Kenya
Cradle of humanity; Swahili coast trading city-states; British colony to Mau Mau independence.
Overview
The Turkana Basin has yielded some of the oldest hominid fossils. Medieval Swahili coastal cities like Mombasa and Malindi engaged in Indian Ocean trade. British East Africa gave way to independence in 1963.
Basic Information
CapitalNairobi
Population56 million
Area580,367 km²
CurrencyKenyan shilling (KES)
LanguagesSwahili, English
RegionSub-Saharan Africa
History Timeline
- c. 3 myaHominid ancestors in the Rift Valley
- c. 800 – 1500Swahili city-states flourish
- 1498Vasco da Gama at Malindi
- 1895 – 1963British East Africa
- 1963Independence under Kenyatta
Ancient Peoples
- Cushitic pastoralists
- Bantu Swahili
- Nilotic peoples
Ancient Kingdoms
- Swahili city-states
Empires
- Omani Empire (coastal)
- British Empire
Religions
- Christianity
- Islam
- Traditional religions
Culture
Maasai traditions, Swahili literature, wildlife heritage.
Language
Swahili and English official; 60+ local languages.
Important Battles
- Mau Mau Uprising1952 – 1960
Anti-colonial insurgency
Historical Figures
Jomo Kenyatta
1964 – 1978
First president
Wangari Maathai
1940 – 2011
Nobel Peace laureate
Archaeological Sites
- Koobi Fora
- Turkana Boy site
- Gedi
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
- Lamu Old Town
- Fort Jesus (Mombasa)
- Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
Dynasties
Colonial Period
British Kenya 1895 – 1963.
Modern History
Republic; East Africa's economic hub.