Bandari

Bandari is a term with several distinct uses in East Africa and beyond. In Swahili, bandari means port or harbor, and the word is widely used to designate coastal facilities, harbor districts, and maritime infrastructure. It appears in place names and signage connected with shipping, travel, and coastal commerce, reflecting the region’s long-standing relationship with the sea. The term is part of everyday vocabulary across Swahili-speaking communities and is culturally associated with the coastal economy and urban life along the Indian Ocean.

Bandari is also the name of a Kenyan musical group. Formed in the late 20th century in Mombasa, the band is known for drawing on coastal musical traditions such as taarab while incorporating contemporary genres. Their work reflects the maritime and multicultural character of Kenya’s coast and often features multilingual lyrics that express coastal identity, cosmopolitan influences, and everyday life near the port cities.

In addition to uses as a linguistic term and a musical group, Bandari can appear in other contexts related to ports or harbor-related organizations and districts in Swahili-speaking regions. The word thus functions as both a lexical item describing a place and a cultural identifier tied to coastal heritage.