The Demography of Mombasa: It has been noted that it is the melting pot of cultures and communities.
Mombasa is Kenya second largest city and a major port city on the indian Ocean filled with historical and mixture of cultural and ethnical diversified people. Being one of the oldest most established port city in the region, for centuries now, Mombasa has welcomed people from different regions and from different cultures. This has brought about a special demographic pattern which correlates with the historical and current importance of the city. Now let us look at some facts and figures regarding the demography of Mombasa before proceeding to find out why it is one of the culturally diverse cities in Kenya.
Population Overview
According to the latest estimates Mombasa is home to about 1.2 million people putting the city behind Nairobi, Kenya’s most populous city. The community density in Mombasa is fairly reasonable especially in the business and industrial centers and well as in residential areas. The city’s population is increasing through the natural increase as well as influx of people from other parts of the country in the search for jobs, education and better housing standards.
Ethnic Diversity
Ethnic diversity is one of the major aspects that define Mombasa and that’s why the city is so diverse. The city has composed ethnic population of Swahili, Mijikenda, Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya and Kamba among others.
- Swahili Community: This culture is traceable to African, Arabs, Persian and Indians and the Swahili people of Mombasa cultural group is one of the oldest. Brought here from the neighboring country Tanzania the Swahili language which is incorporated in the Kenyan national anthem evolved in the city and is the most widely used language in the region.
- Mijikenda: The Mijikenda ethnic group that tends to be synonymous with the coastal strip people comprises of the Digo and Giriama sub-tribes who are original inhabitants of the Kenyan coast and dominantly found in Mombasa. The showcased or labelled minorities shape greatly the cultural landscape of the city as seen in their music, dance and foods.
• Other Ethnic Groups: other ethnic groups from ational regions have also flocked to mombasa to seek for business ventures and job opportunities including Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya and Kamba. These groups have their own language, customs and norms, and this in one way or the other enhances the social structure of the city.