The colonial history of Kenya, told through old houses and monuments
The colonial history of Kenya, told through old houses and monuments
Kenya has a unique collection of old houses and monuments. The History of Kenya is told through these buildings.
I recently made this video for Heritage trust Kenya. If your a tourist, or citizen, interested in Kenyan culture and Heritage watch this to find out more about what the Trust does to protect these old buildings. Kenya history is…
source
Reviews
0 %
Nairobi is very beautiful, and the old houses and gardens give me deep impression
Nairobi is very beautiful, and the old houses and gardens give me deep impression
Whites brought more hardship. The good they supposedly brought is nothing compared to the division they left. The man saying they brought good things is part of the reason we worship these wazungus. I've lived in their land and they blacks. Everyone hates blacks yet we strive to be inclusive of them.
Av been to Mr. Nderitu's house in Kinangop
Instead of just telling us stories about these buildings, HTK should tell us who owns the title deeds to the land and how investors can purchase them for restoration. Theories in videos take us nowhere
Indeed us Kenyans should preserve our history even before colonialism. It helps us understand and appreciate all tribes in country.
I wish you good luck and success for this great project!
Quite fascinating.
Was looking for something providing kenyas history before it's destruction of its history by the British. Am so embarrassed by this video telling an enslaved nation how its awful masters who still hold those horrible opinions of themselves built houses in our country. Can you please dig up the history they destroyed and show Kenyans how we lived and what houses we lived in. What is the matter with us.. are we so brainwashed we can't see our selves anymore. This is appalling guys . When you go their countries they will never show you what the Romans did ! Am so angry once again. We want our own history not theirs please
I think that there are some salient points that must be considered when one looks at the "Whites" in Kenya including those members of the notorious "Happy Valley Set".
Firstly Kenya was the only country in Africa to actually have an operating railway before the influx of white settlers began. This meant that passengers disembarking at Mombasa had a comparatively, by those standards, comfortable overnight journey by train to Nairobi, the capital; rather than a tortuous and often dangerous 14 day trek by ox-wagon over incredibly rough terrain.
The railway had been built to serve the British Protectorate of Uganda, which had been the source of much of the region's trade in slaves. Secondly, the British Government was alarmed by the growing presence of Germans in what was then neighbouring German East Africa, now Tanzania.. So it was decided to encourage Britons to settle the hitherto sparsely populated region to be known as Kenya, by offering very favourable land grants for sizeable acreages. Another real advantage for British settlers was that a large portion of the interior was of such high altitude that although the country straddled the Equator, the climate was in fact "Temporate" rather than Tropical.
As far as the handful of settlers known as "The Happy Valley Set", whose infamy spread far and wide, it must also be remembered that they were very much a minority there, and most white settlers were decent hard working folk. But getting back to "The Happy Valley" it must also be considered that most had arrived with their vices already intact. They were virtually without exception "Remittance" people with a few amusing hangers on, who did not have to worry about such irksome details as having to earn a living to worry about and whose hedonistic, profligate lifestyles threatened to plague their conservative families with scandal. Thus it was decided to ship them off to Kenya where they could live out their lives of debauched excess, largely out of sight. Remember this was before the age of mass comminication. So they arrived with their crystal and bone china, even grand piano's, intact.. Some even went so far as to ship out entire sizeable pre-fabricated houses..
I am so happy I found this video.
I live part time in Kenya and I feel so sad when I pass colonial buildings falling apart.
There are some wonderful buildings in Mombasa and no one seems to care about them.
Excellent videos Mike.
I never relised how pritty Kenya actully was. no wonder the Britsh elite settled there more than anywear. I know africa has many differnit landscapes but i must admit When i think of it the Pritty delacate flowers and green trees and strange pine trees do not come to mind. when i think of africa i think of the lush but gorss humis swanmpyness of west africa or the savana that looks nice but is parched and dry for most of the year. Kenya allmost looks more cool and tempret but i am shure it get hot. but yeah.
My great great grandfather built a house in central Kenya. The locals turned it into a Church. Good. He was an EVIL man and the thought of his legacy being immortalized by his victims "as heritage" would disgust me. I'm glad that building is on use for good. I'm glad those congregants have no idea of the beast that built it. We know for a fact that he fathered children with children, that's how evil he was.
Interesting project. I'm curious to see what will come of it. The photo at 3:09 of the Maasai men… do you have any info on where it was taken and in what year?
Why is it about whites and not us
what a great project ! well done
Great job Mike
Amazing video