Rabai, also called Rabai Mpya (New Rabai), is a historic location and Sub-County in Kilifi County, Kenya about 12 miles northwest of the city of Mombasa. It is the first place in Kenya where missionaries of the Church Missionary Society (CMS) established a Christian mission.
Johann Ludwig Krapf came to Rabai in 1844 with his pregnant wife Rosine, whom he had married in Egypt. Shortly afterwards on 9 June 1844, his wife died of malaria. At the time of her death, Krapf was also taken ill and their newborn infant died 3 days later. They were buried at Rabai. In 1846 Krapf together with Johannes Rebmann set up a mission at Rabai. Dr. Krapf learnt the local languages and translated the bible into Swahili.
On 10 June 1849 Jakob Erhardt and John Wagner arrived at the Rabbai Mpia mission station, where they joined Krapf and Rebmann. However, Wagner died on 1 August 1849.[2] In the spring of 1850 Erhardt and Krapf travelled by dhow down the East African coast from Mombasa. The boat was small and food was scarce, poor quality and difficult to prepare due to the rain. However, they collected much information about the interior. After the voyage the two returned to the mission station, and in 1851 Krapf left for Europe to recuperate.[2]
Knapf returned and new missionaries were sent. Several died and the mission was moved inland to Ribe. Knapf went back to Europe and Thomas Wakefield became the lead missionary. Rebecca Wakefield,[3] Charles New and Butterfield were among those lost.[4]
Todayedit
The people of Rabai are known as Rabai (Warabai in Swahili) and their language is also known as Rabai (kirabai in Swahili). They are one of the nine tribes known as Mijikenda.
The Krapf Museum also known as the Rabai Museum was founded in memory of Krapf and his work in the area. The Rabai festival is an annual event held in November to celebrate the history, life and culture of the Rabai and their small town.
^Matthew, H. C. G.; Harrison, B., eds. (2004-09-23). "The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. ref:odnb/49163. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/49163. Retrieved 2023-03-01. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^Mackenzie, Andrew (8 June 2012). "150 years of Methodism in Kenya. Part 1 "In the Beginning…."". My United Methodists. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
Sources
Bursik, Heinrich (2008). (PDF). Universität Wien. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-02-18.
rabai, also, called, mpya, historic, location, county, kilifi, county, kenya, about, miles, northwest, city, mombasa, first, place, kenya, where, missionaries, church, missionary, society, established, christian, mission, mpya, mpyacoordinates, 931733, 571518,. Rabai also called Rabai Mpya New Rabai is a historic location and Sub County in Kilifi County Kenya about 12 miles northwest of the city of Mombasa It is the first place in Kenya where missionaries of the Church Missionary Society CMS established a Christian mission Rabai MpyaRabai MpyaCoordinates 3 55 54 S 39 34 17 E 3 931733 S 39 571518 E 3 931733 39 571518CountryKenyaCountyKilifi CountyFounded byexisted as a tribePopulation 2019 1 Total120 813 Contents 1 History 2 Today 3 See also 4 ReferencesHistory editJohann Ludwig Krapf came to Rabai in 1844 with his pregnant wife Rosine whom he had married in Egypt Shortly afterwards on 9 June 1844 his wife died of malaria At the time of her death Krapf was also taken ill and their newborn infant died 3 days later They were buried at Rabai In 1846 Krapf together with Johannes Rebmann set up a mission at Rabai Dr Krapf learnt the local languages and translated the bible into Swahili On 10 June 1849 Jakob Erhardt and John Wagner arrived at the Rabbai Mpia mission station where they joined Krapf and Rebmann However Wagner died on 1 August 1849 2 In the spring of 1850 Erhardt and Krapf travelled by dhow down the East African coast from Mombasa The boat was small and food was scarce poor quality and difficult to prepare due to the rain However they collected much information about the interior After the voyage the two returned to the mission station and in 1851 Krapf left for Europe to recuperate 2 Knapf returned and new missionaries were sent Several died and the mission was moved inland to Ribe Knapf went back to Europe and Thomas Wakefield became the lead missionary Rebecca Wakefield 3 Charles New and Butterfield were among those lost 4 Today editThe people of Rabai are known as Rabai Warabai in Swahili and their language is also known as Rabai kirabai in Swahili They are one of the nine tribes known as Mijikenda The Krapf Museum also known as the Rabai Museum was founded in memory of Krapf and his work in the area The Rabai festival is an annual event held in November to celebrate the history life and culture of the Rabai and their small town See also editKaya Mudzi Muvya a sacred forest of the RabaiReferences editCitations 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census Volume I Population by County and Sub County retrieved 8 April 2020 a b Bursik 2008 pp 45 Matthew H C G Harrison B eds 2004 09 23 The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford Oxford University Press pp ref odnb 49163 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 49163 Retrieved 2023 03 01 Subscription or UK public library membership required Mackenzie Andrew 8 June 2012 150 years of Methodism in Kenya Part 1 In the Beginning My United Methodists Retrieved 1 March 2023 Sources Bursik Heinrich 2008 Wissenschaft u Mission soll sich aufs innigste miteinander befreunden PDF Universitat Wien Archived from the original PDF on 2015 02 18 External links https archive today 20130628031812 http www rabaicbo org http www museums or ke content blogcategory 50 74 http anglicanhistory org africa krapf career1882 html http old magicalkenya com default nsf news1 01CB22EC3638BEDE43256C63002E04A2 opendocument amp l 1 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rabai amp oldid 1151639752, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
