Did you know there is a library inside a Neo-classical building on Mfangano Street, right in the middle of Nairobi? The Ismaili Rahimtull...
Did you know there is a library inside a Neo-classical building on Mfangano Street, right in the middle of Nairobi?
The Ismaili Rahimtulla Walji Trust Library often goes unnoticed amidst the skyscrapers and busy streets. But one curious explorer, Keith Ang’ana, decided to uncover its secrets.
“Is the building open to the public?” Ang’ana asked the vigilant security guard stationed at the entrance.
The answer is a resounding no.
“When was it last operational?” The guard shrugs, uncertain.
Except, someone does frequent the building—the caretaker tasked with its maintenance.
But what lies beyond those imposing doors? The library holds countless books covering various subjects like philosophy, law, politics, history, medicine, arts, and religion.
The mere mention of such a collection sparks a curiosity that cannot be easily quenched. Who would not be drawn to such wisdom?
A curious Ang’ara sought to enter Yet, despite his best efforts, the path remained elusive.
It is unclear who holds the key to unlock the doors of the library.
But before uncovering the secrets of the library, here is the history behind the street on which it stands. Mfangano Street comes from Abasuba words meaning ‘reconciliation’ or ‘to unite,’
Before independence, Mfangano Street was known as Jeevanjee Street, named after Albhai Mulla Jeevanjee, a prominent figure in Nairobi’s early development.
But upon decolonization, it was renamed to Mfangano street.
The library was set up in 1953 by Rahimtulla Warji Hirji, an Ismaili trader through the Rahimtulla Charitable Trust he founded in the 1940s. He aimed to empower communities with education and welfare.
As the treasures behind the Ismaili Rahimtulla Walji Trust Library on a building along Mfangano Street remain elusive, who will uncover its secrets? Only time will tell.
By Vivian K.
The post THE HISTORY OF THE LIBRARY ON NAIROBI’S MFANGANO STREET appeared first on BNN.
