The Kilwas
In search of new ideas
In 2012 Clarissa and I traveled to Southern Tanzania, intent of finding some new ideas for paintings. Having grown up at Mombasa on Kenya's coast in the 1960s I have a very strong association with all things Swahili Coast. Both my mother and father also had the same fondness for Arab architecture, the old world atmosphere, and the romantic locations and culture of this coastline. Then it's no surprise that so do I. The Kilwas are well known for some famous ruins there. However time and experience has taught me that you find gems when you search beyond the obvious. This trip was a perfect example of that!
1/ : On the flight down there we passed over the Rufiji Delta.
2/ : We stopped at Mafia Island on the way to Kilwa.
3/ : The idyllic Indian Ocean near Kilwa Kivinji.
4/ : Dhows headed for Kilwa Kissani
5/ : The ruins at Kilwa.
6/ : Kilwa Fort. We tried 6 mornings in a row before we caught it with the sun out.
7/ : Our guide referred to this as the Jewish Graveyard.
8/ : Most of the graves dated from the German Colonial era.
9/ : None of the graves were being looked after.
10/ : India Street. A shadow of its former glorious past.
11/ : Zanzibar doors can still be found along this street.
12/ : There are several buildings that still have these iconic doors in place.
13/ : India Street: 2012.
14/ : German WWI monument to soldiers killed in an uprising. Four cannons are embedded vertically around it.
15/ : One of the cannons.
16/ : The old German Boma at Kilwa.
17/ : The view from the Boma.
18/ : The present day fishing harbor near the Boma.
19/ : The return flight to Dar es Salaam showed me this!
20/ : My painting of Kilwa Fort: 2015.
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