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.

Old Africa magazine seeks to tell the story of East Africa’s past through well-written stories and vintage photographs. Founded in October 2005, the first issue featured a story about the Royal Navy’s ill-fated attempt to launch a naval presence on Lake Rudolph (now Lake Turkana) and an account of the Kedong Massacre. Since then the magazine has published stories and photos from Kenya’s diverse ethnic groups – African, Asian and European – to preserve East Africa’s history. 

‘Long Lou’ Llewellin and his Hats

‘Long Lou’ Llewellin and his Hats

‘Long Lou’ Llewellin and his Hats ‘Long Lou’, a six-foot-four, broad-shouldered man, ‘beloved of ladies and a very Bayard in battle,’ was Gloucestershire-born John Lionel Bretherton Llewellyn Llewellin. He wore an eyeglass and sandals, with often nothing in between...

‘Biltong’ Ross

‘Biltong’ Ross

Charles Joseph Ross ‘Biltong’ Ross was a larger-than-life Kenyan character. Born in Australia on 4 July 1857, he joined the Australian Mounted Police, rounding up gangs of bushrangers. As a young man he travelled to America where he lived with native Americans and...

Margaret Griffiths, a Missionary Wife

Margaret Griffiths, a Missionary Wife The women who accompanied their husbands on their early missionary endeavours in East Africa were a stalwart bunch. One such was wife of John Bynner Griffiths, a Methodist missionary at Mazeras. Margaret E. Edwards was born in...