Here are photographs of Nairobi and Mombasa in Kenya and Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania taken over 40 years ago. Back then,they were very different cities. Nairobi was relatively young, having been established in 1899.

Well, here you go :)

Nairobi

An aerial of the Central Business District. Nairobi was so small then, that you can clearly see the city's edge at the top of the picture:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886728.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886735.jpg

The Central Business District then. Very different from what it is today:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886742.jpg

A grand building that's still there:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886739.jpg

Nairobi Capitol Theatre (ahead) and the National Archives (left), both still there:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/22502618.jpg

Nairobi Town Centre, without so many cars!

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/22502633.jpg




Mombasa

Mombasa Port, now East Africa's largest port:

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886606.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886592.jpg


Dar Es Salaam

( sorry I couldn't find anything bigger :( )

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886769.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886773.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886772.jpg

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886758.jpg

In contrast, this is the respective cities now:


Nairobi

http://static.flickr.com/53/109612834_f59658a5c3_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/32/94099169_aaddbb5791_o.jpg


Mombasa

http://static.flickr.com/51/117615634_67e17c3bc2_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/24/45118732_efcba08da8_o.jpg

Dar

http://static.flickr.com/15/68346363_695febec3f_b.jpg

http://static.flickr.com/41/113386876_6e15c97bca_o.jpg

Wow, Nairobi was such a town back in those days, do you know how many people lived there at the time?

I'm not sure but I'll find out for you :)

cool pics

I'm not sure but I'll find out for you :)


thanks!

Nairobi Pop

1950 87000
1955 139000
1960 219000
1965 348000
1970 531000

thanks, the city really experienced huge population increase at the time

I noticed the railwayline passes where Loita street is today (next to Kipande house), and there are buildings where Uhuru park should be. I can only recognise Kipande house, Jamia mosque, Khoja mosque, city market and emporis house (the tallest building in the foreground near Kipande house which today isnt even noticable-I thought it was built after independence Lol.) The city limits are Pangani/Ngara and I can spot Jamuhuri High (Duke of york in those days) right next to the forest. The dirt track connecting the CBD to the suburbs is Thika road. But the shocker is that cute little chapel to the right of the pic. Today thats the Holy Family basilica.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b281/SE9/20886735.jpg

http://www.mccrow.org.uk/eastafrica/kenya/GovtRoad.jpg

http://www.mccrow.org.uk/eastafrica/kenya/NairobiKenyattaAvenuex.jpghttp://www.mccrow.org.uk/eastafrica/kenya/NairobiNewStanley.jpg

http://www.mccrow.org.uk/eastafrica/kenya/NairobiGovtRoad1.jpghttp://www.mccrow.org.uk/eastafrica/kenya/NairobiGovtRoad2.jpg

Can anyone identify the following buildings? Photos taken in Nairobi 1961-ish.

No1
http://i38.tinypic.com/35aoow1.jpg

No2
http://i33.tinypic.com/288v4w4.jpg

No3
http://i34.tinypic.com/2wegjf4.jpg

Can anyone identify the following buildings? Photos taken in Nairobi 1961-ish.

No1
http://i38.tinypic.com/35aoow1.jpg

No2
http://i33.tinypic.com/288v4w4.jpg

No3
http://i34.tinypic.com/2wegjf4.jpg

For No 1: My guess is one of those University of Nairobi students hostels.

Nos 2 and 3 is the office of the president, Harambee avenue (different views).

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/4115235240_d2776b337d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/4114472241_1a498a4e53_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2636/4114449961_cafc748618_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2575/4114461539_c68e765470_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2662/4114446503_dbe2baf95c_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2604/4114457605_272e4420bc_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2546/4115222936_564f23a49d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4113014498_f0377ff19e_o.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/4113011346_21dce090c1_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/4112248143_29bcd74b4d_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2591/4113012048_a1e58f08c8_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4112245345_df0da7453c_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4112235189_644f36db63_b.jpg

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2625/4113006258_f8ac338003_b.jpg

Nairobi looked so amazing back then. It could have passed as an American city.

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/db77fec6c8.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

UoN 1958

http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/3a09f22b0d.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

tanzan, where u @? we need to see how dar was like back then!!!

tanzan, where u @? we need to see how dar was like back then!!!

I am here!!!:)

K lets start with this one coz I really like it but it is Tanga
http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae190/tanzan_2010/798PX-1.jpg

Dar es Salaam
Waterfront
http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae190/tanzan_2010/56411321-1.jpg

Independence Avenue
http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae190/tanzan_2010/56411511.jpg

that church on the waterfront is still there today isn't it?

that church on the waterfront is still there today isn't it?

Yes it is.

I am here!!!:)

K lets start with this one coz I really like it but it is Tanga
http://i970.photobucket.com/albums/ae190/tanzan_2010/798PX-1.jpg

that east african(arabian influenced) coastal feeling all over again. just an easy going atmosphere.

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3070187195_2893cbb06f_o.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3090960943_f33e77627c_b.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3091804366_0e25aa1899_b.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3079232848_a46d62066c_b.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3079232466_06f63303cb_b.jpg
http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3079233342_b1897f0ba3_b.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3091805970_81fd31281e_b.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3090963901_3e4dfb16ce_b.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/3071026866_93afbbd54b_z.jpg

Kimathi St (1960)
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/d3c57baf2b.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

Norfolk 1958
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/99dbe6dffe.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

Kimathi St (1960)
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/uploads/d3c57baf2b.jpg (http://www.freeimagehosting.net/)

^^
This was called Hardinge street back in 1960.

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/785px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_105-DOA01622C_Deutsch-Ostafrika2C_Daressalam2C_Strassenbild.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/457px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_105-DOA02862C_Deutsch-Ostafrika2C_Daressalam2C_Hotel.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/788px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_105-DOA06962C_Deutsch-Ostafrika2C_Daressalam2C_Polizeitruppe.jpg

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/788px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_105-DOA06962C_Deutsch-Ostafrika2C_Daressalam2C_Polizeitruppe.jpg

Must have been taken during WWI.

dar es salaam zanaki street

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/26542_388135528306_759558306_3726939_5903782_n.jpg

1939

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/24725757.jpg

Amazing

http://img685.imageshack.us/img685/32/martinwsrally.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/685/martinwsrally.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/5395/srally.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/88/srally.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

This looks like Nairobi in the 70's or late 60's. (going by the car models and fashion sense of the people in the pic and of course the street name).

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3335/5847948234_d4e0cd6c3b_b.jpg

By ianw1951-flickr.

Mombasa in the 50's- early 60's.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6195/6082778290_0aeb09bfd8_b.jpg

By 2Q46-flickr.

Delamere Flats, early 50's

http://i51.tinypic.com/2d792ip.jpg

Kisumu. Taken somewhere between 1958-1962.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/6195695205_5d07c22676_b.jpg

By Martinw.dixon, Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24550621@N06/6195695205/sizes/l/in/photostream/

And I thought that the numerous bikes in Kisumu today is a recent development; it seems like they had plenty of them way back too. What strikes me about the old pictures is that they depict a sense of organization and cleanliness that is hardly evident today.

Kisumu. Taken somewhere between 1958-1962.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/6195695205_5d07c22676_b.jpg

By Martinw.dixon, Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24550621@N06/6195695205/sizes/l/in/photostream/

And I thought that the numerous bikes in Kisumu today is a recent development; it seems like they had plenty of them way back too. What strikes me about the old pictures is that they depict a sense of organization and cleanliness that is hardly evident today.

The organization and cleanliness was evident upto the mid 70's. From the late 70's onward especially during the Moi era, everything went to the dogs. We lost the maintenance culture which we are slowly trying to reclaim in stop-start spurts here and there.

Then again, the cities weren't as congested as they are today. With the Kipande laws (passbook laws) during the pre-independence period limiting the movement of people to urban areas, it was possible to plan and maintain the urban areas and provide all the services required even in low income areas.

Nakuru race track, 1958-1962.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4356855999_9136d547f2_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4068/4356856807_1a5264b325_b.jpg

By martinw.dixon, Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24550621@N06/4356856807/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Nairobi: Ngong racecourse 1958-62.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6174/6196234264_48eab4d5ce_b.jpg

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6175/6195721279_bd3991f76b_b.jpg

By martinw.dixon, Flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24550621@N06/6195721279/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Mombasa, 1967.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6504823117_bc168e2982_b.jpg

By Argentem, Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/argentem/6504823117/

Nairobi, 1940's.

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/9251/nairobi5mr0.jpg

man this thread is the greatest. i'm sure it wasn't all fun and games back in the day, but man does it still look great. those cars, the clothes, the faded pictures...


dar es salaam zanaki street

http://i1213.photobucket.com/albums/cc475/xiaohan1/26542_388135528306_759558306_3726939_5903782_n.jpg

ok, who else saw this and thought of this pic:
http://gorankem.com/artist-data-1/10361/extralarge.jpg

it's from the cover of buena vista social club and is presumably a picture of a cuban street. take time to listen to one of the greatest pieces of music evar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JEdf7XsV5g

and you know a ***** gotta represent for nakuru. this is kenyatta avenue with it's signature gilani's supermarket on the leftside

http://www.gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/images/nakuru6.jpg

http://www.gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/images/nakuru2.jpg

http://www.gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/images/nakuru1.jpg

^^
Thanx for the Nakuru pics. Surprising to see how much Kenyatta avenue hasn't changed (It used to be called Main Street in the colonial era). Though at the rate Nakuru is growing, this won't be the case for long.

Nairobi in the 1950's: Maasai warriors marching through Hardinge street (Kimathi street today).

http://www.gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/images/safar201.jpg

March 31, 1950. The day Nairobi became a city.

http://www.gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/images/safar190.jpg

http://www.gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/images/safar192.jpg

http://www.gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/images/safar198.jpg

http://www.gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/images/safar208.jpg

http://gordonmumford.com/eastafrica/kenyacities.htm

Nyeri, 1941. Lord Baden Powell's funeral. (founder of the world scouts movement).

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/32/95501801_a1d3b2a6bd_o.jpg

http://farm1.staticflickr.com/11/95501750_4fe7d1e599_o.jpg

By Zanypurr, Flickr.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/svkett/95501750/sizes/o/in/photostream/

Kisumu, 60's.

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7144/6674859587_86846f1401_b.jpg

By NortonCollection, Flickr.

Great Pics kenguy.

Great Pics kenguy.

Thanx. :)