Welcome to Old Africa

your window into East Africa’s past.

Old Africa books

Old Africa books are well-told stories in the same tradition as the shorter pieces

our readers have come to enjoy from the pages of Old Africa magazine.

After two decades in print, Old Africa is now fully digital and free for all! That’s right: zero shillings, endless stories. Yes, we’ll miss the smell and feel of fresh paper too — and to our loyal subscribers who’ve stacked us proudly on bookshelves, we thank you for your loyalty. The stories stay rich, the history stays deep — only the format has changed.

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The Bazett Sisters and their Cousin Mabel

The Bazett Sisters and their Cousin Mabel

Mary, Louisa and Sibella Bazett, three intrepid sisters, arrived in Mombasa in 1892; they were followed by their cousin Hazel Bazett in 1899. The sisters had been brought up in a strict religious (Church of England) family of thirteen children and were determined to...

How did Smith Mackenzie Begin (part two)

How did Smith Mackenzie Begin (part two)

Firmly established in Zanzibar, the firm Smith Mackenzie was in an excellent position to take advantage of the opportunities for trade on the mainland once the Imperial British East Africa Company penetrated the interior of the lands that were to become Kenya and...

How did the firm Smith Mackenzie begin? (part 1)

How did the firm Smith Mackenzie begin? (part 1)

In the 1870s The Sultan of Zanzibar, Seyyid Bhargash, was well disposed towards Westerners, particularly if their activities boosted the island’s commerce. The British India Steam Navigation Company (BISN) started a regular service of steamers between Bombay and Aden...