Coastal historic bar:
Compensation for a priceless treasure
By Cyprian Fernandes
Sydney, Australia
A CLINICAL study conducted by Museums of Kenya into
Mombasa’s historic Kilindini Bar has made a strong case for compensation to be
paid to the bar’s owners, the De Souza family.
According to the study: “The proposed Mombasa Gateway
Bridge (MGB) project developer should compensate the owner for the loss of
heritage value separately from the current economic market value of the
property through negotiation. The compensation should cover the loss of
architecture/ history and associated social, psychological and spiritual
values.”
Some comments from the study: “One objective of
this study was to understand what heritage was/ is at risk at Kilindini Bar and
why is it important. As a commercial enterprise, Kilindini Bar is 114 years old
while the built structure in which it is currently housed is 94 years old.
Although it has not yet been declared a monument, it has qualities that make it
fit the recognition as a national heritage.
“It is still in use as commercial premises and
its physical condition is well preserved as it does not have any major
pathologies. This study has found that Kilindini Bar has scientific and
educational values (can be held by public, De Souza family, universities,
Asian/Goan community, colleges, schools, NMK, and Mombasa County Government).”
The study found that Kilindini Bar has five
categories of heritage values: scientific and educational, recreational,
social, psychological and spiritual, aesthetic and economic values. Each of
these values is held by one or more stakeholders of the property. Further
analysis of these values as reflected in Kilindini Bar shows it is ‘high’ even
if it has not been declared as a national historical monument (see Table 2). It
qualifies for protection as a national monument and in this case, qualifies for
compensation for loss of heritage values.
The study also pointed to “The recreational
value (can be held by public, customers, Asian/Goan, European and local
communities etc). In addition, the social, psychological and spiritual values
(held by owners, management/staff, the De Souza family/descendants, loyal
customers, Asian/ Goan, European, and local communities).
“The aesthetic value (is held by public,
customers, management/staff) and economic values (owners, management/staff,
Food and snack vendors, suppliers and Mombasa County Government). The value of the
Kilindini Bar site is assessed against existing policies that regulate heritage
management in Kenya, it is built heritage deemed to have been protected and
thus its heritage value is considered ‘high’ or more. “
In reference to the proposed MGB project
activities’ impacts, Kilindini Bar is located in a traverse of the new project
and therefore it will be acquired by the Government and then demolished. There
will be total loss of all the tangible attributes and this loss or change is
considered a ‘major’ one.
According to the Study: “Compensation to be made
by the Government to the owners will be determined by current market value. It
is recommended there be compensation for heritage value loss. It is possible
for heritage value to be considered separately through negotiation with
stakeholders. It is recommended that compensation for the ‘loss of heritage’ of
a particular property or place should be one of the factors to be considered in
addition to the real market value of the asset.
“There is a need for the government, the
National Museums of Kenya and Kenya archaeologists and heritage professionals
to formulate policy/legislation to guide the compensation of loss of heritage
of ‘protected heritage property’ or ‘heritage property deemed to have been
protected’.”
Finally, we recommend the inclusion of the
proposed mitigation measures in the Environmental and Social Management and
Monitoring Plans for MGB project and the Resettlement Action Plans (RAP).
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Kilindini
Bar (A.C De Souza & Co. building) sits on a piece of land measuring Mombasa/Block/1 0.05796 HA & Mombasa/Block
XIX /2 0.03400 HA comprising of a developed commercial and residential
building, along Mwakilingo Street. It is one of the oldest and the best-preserved
examples of the living historical monument and private commercial building in
the Kilindini area. Its applied architectural design is quite simple and stands
out as one of the best-preserved types which carries a long family, as well as
urban and global history.
It
represents the development of Mombasa town, from the mere medieval quarter in
Mombasa Old Town area, to what it is presently as a modern city. Kilindini Bar
holds the distinction of being the Mombasa town’s oldest bar and a building that
is associated with the development and growth of the port of Kilindini and as
such with Kenya’s maritime trade and commercial history. Kilindini Bar at its
‘golden age’ had attained the status of the single most important place for
recreation and entertainment before other clubs emerged in Mombasa due to the
services offered. It has remained attractive to its clients who include people
from all walks of life: Europeans, Arabs, Indians and local Africans.
The
management of Kilindini Bar has adopted very limited modern technology and this
has contributed to the preservation of its historical and architectural
character over the years. The site can be an excellent educational facility for
people interested in the social and urban history of Mombasa, the anthropology
of Asian Africans in East Africa and entrepreneurship in the alcoholic and
beverage service sector. It has the potential for use, conservation and
presentation to the public for both local and foreign tourism.
Kilindini
Bar’s architectural design and history compare well with other similar
properties outside the Mombasa Old Town such as Tangana Hall (Babu Motors)
built around the early 1900s and is situated along Moi Avenue (a short distance
east of Kilindini Bar) which continues to be preserved with its original
masonry and architecture to present day.
Tangana
Hall was declared a national monument by the Government of Kenya in the 1990s.
Kilindini Bar has survived into the 21st century A.D.
due to the resilience and sentimental attachment of its owners, management and
staff to preserve it. This has prevented many irreversible changes associated
with modernization. For example, they have resisted the temptation to demolish
and build high-rise apartments. The ownership of Kilindini Bar managed to
safeguard its identity while it was growing now dating back close to 114 years.
The building fabric is relatively well maintained and the social and cultural
practices unique to the property are still in place due to the resilience of
its management and owners. It adheres to its old way of life and the building
itself is as it was about a century ago. The management of Kilindini Bar has
managed to maintain the age-old tradition of a sense of belonging and social unity.
PREPARED FOR:
A.C De Souza & Co. (Kilindini Bar)
P.O Box 95083 Mombasa, Kenya
PREPARED BY:
Philip M. Wanyama, Ambrose Kingada & Angela M.
Wanjiku
Coastal Archaeology, National Museums of Kenya
P.O Box 82412-80100 Mombasa, Kenya
I have a fond memory of kilindini bar. it used to be my watering hole 40 years ago.
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