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The giant ivory monument in Mombasa also known as Mapemba ya Ndovu or Pembe za Ndovu have a long and winding history dating back to seven decades ago. Built in 1952 over Mombasa's Moi Avenue, formerly known as Kilindini Road, the monumental landmark celebrated Princess Elizabeth's visit to Mombasa during her trip to Kenya.
Later on when her younger sister Princess Margaret Rose Windsor visited Kenya in 1956, she toured Mombasa, driving past the incredible monument which was originally made of wood.
The giant ivory which coincidentally forms letter 'M' for Mombasa, received a facelift from the municipal council in the same year and was recast with weather resistant aluminium materials. In 2017 the tusks were refurbished by the county government in partnership with a local cement factory.
Todate, a visit to the coastal city is never complete without touring the famous ivory monument. Locals can enjoy free photo sessions, however the National Museums of Kenya which safeguards the monument, charge a fee for commercial filming.
Surprisingly, a section of Mombasa residents believe that the monument is merely decoration the coastal while others have no idea what the giant tusks represent.
"I was born and raised in Mombasa and I have been seeing the ivory tusks but I do not know their meaning, their history or when they were put up," a Mombasa resident said.
Another claims that he was informed that the ivory landmarked Moi Avenue as the official route that was used by traders to transport ivory from Kenya to other countries.
"I am not well versed with why the ivory was set up here but someone told me it was to show ivory traders passed here while on their way connecting to different countries to do business," the unnamed resident told Hajj Ramadhan in a past interview.
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Queen Elizabeth II died on Thursday September 8, 2022 at Balmoral Castle, Scotland. Her death brings mixed reactions among Kenyans as her reign coincided with the colonolial and post colonial era when thousands of freedom fighters were detained, killed and hanged.
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