Background:

The beautiful county in Kenya, lies on the Kilifi Creek and sits on the estuary of the Goshi River. It borders the counties of Tana River to the North, Taita Taveta to the West, Mombasa and Kwale to the South and the Indian Ocean to the East. 

Given its proximity to the Indian Ocean, the county is a hub for tourism and fishing . Some of its beaches have been rated the best in Africa

They are found in Kilifi, Kikambala, Watamu, and Malindi, accompanied by some of the best resorts and hotels with finger licking food preferences.

The wealth of history in the region is overwhelming with historical sites such as the Mnarani Ruins dating back between the fourteenth and seventeenth century. 

Over the years the place has transformed from a sweet, laidback coastal region into a stunning place renowned for its beautiful beaches, cool culture, and amazing food.  

About Kilifi People & Their Culture

Kilifi is basically paradise where it's people exhibits a happy and relaxed mood.They are believed to have originated from the Singwaya (or Shungwaya) from the north of the Somali Coast, while escaping the constant attacks from the Cushitic tribes and Oromo people. They ended up settling in the coastal ridges where they built their kayas within a protective setting.

As they settled, the Persians, Arabs and the Portuguese who came to the region for trade purposes had social interactions with them leading to intermarriages which resulted in the development of the Swahili language.

However the main spoken languages are Kiswahili and Mijikenda. The Mijikenda comprises of 9 sub-tribes; the Giriama, the Digo, the Chonyi, Duruma, Jibana, Kambe, Kauma, Rabai and Ribe. They share a common linguistic and cultural heritage. 

Their main occupation is farming, with more and more land being devoted to cash crops in modern times. Coconut palms are their most important crop.

The main religions in the region are; Islam, Christianity, Hindu and the African Traditional Religion (ATR). Despite the influence of foreign modernization, the Mijikenda have maintained many of their cultural beliefs and practices.

They practice many beliefs that were from their traditional religion, which was a form of ancestor worship. An interesting cultural taboo, they practice to date is the the Kaya Taboo. It prohibits the cutting down of specific trees in the area. This has seen the preservation of several rare and endangered plant species.  

Ultimately being in Kilifi and meeting its people will  just make you happy and carefree.