Eating in Coastal Style

Coastal Kenya eating has partly been made up of Asian and European contributions but the famous Swahili cuisine, the only traditional cooking in Kenya which is loved by many, is a mixture of Arab and Hindu influences. Some of the typical dishes are actually Hindu or Arab specialties adapted to the local ingredients.

Meat eaten is mainly beef, veal, goat and lamb, and to a lesser extent chicken. Meat is stewed or grilled and is usually garnished with potatoes, rice or vegetables.

Kebabs are also very popular, imported from the Arab cuisine but adapted to the local raw materials.

Samosas, originated in India, are small dough rolls stuffed with spiced meat or vegetables and fried. Some drops of lime juice are finally added.

Chapatis are corn flour tortillas. They can be soaked in the breakfast coffee, or eaten with coconut sauce (tui) beans, in Swahili “Maharagwe ya Nazi” or with different types of stew.

Mahambri is a bun which is usually served with coffee.

Drinks:
Tea, chai in Swahili, is essential. It is usually served with milk and sugar.

If you want some Coffee, ask for kahawa tamu au chungu, of course everyone will understand if you speak English.

Be Entertained in Coastal Style

Taarab Music
The root word of taarab, tariba, means "to be moved or agitated." Like much of Swahili culture, taarab began in the Kenyan port of Lamu. After studying there early this century, blind singer and oud (fretless lute) player Mbaruku helped move the music's creative center south to Mombasa. In the '30s, Mombasa's Johar and Morning Star Orchestras became taarab's first full-sized ensembles.

Taarab songs explore romance and marriage, though their stylized Swahili poetry can suggest political interpretations. During the wedding season in Mombasa, people flood the streets coming and going to and from men's and especially women's taarab parties where musicians play styles of music especially suited to each day of the week-long wedding ritual.

Taarab is the main entertainment during wedding parties where much part of the night women outshine one another in wearing elegant dresses, jewelry and henna-decorated hands and feet.