CULTURE IN KENYA
With a diverse ethnic composition, Kenya welcomes you to sample her wide-ranging cultural diversity. The Kenyan people are renowned for their warmth, friendliness and hospitality. The unique culture of some ethnic groups especially the Maasai is an experience like no other. You will meet the tall elegant Maasai whose dress code would make you want to take a thousand and one pictures. Bull fighting in Kakamega is a spectacular event that is gaining popularity. Visitors can also be able to experience different cultural ceremonies like the traditional circumcision of boys in the Western province that takes place in the month of August, that is, once every two years.
Kenya is endowed with a rich historical, cultural and natural heritage and is popularly known as the Cradle of Mankind. Kenya is also one of the most cosmopolitan countries in Africa – no one single cultural element can be used to describe the people as a whole. You could say that the country’s local population easily represents more diversity than many other African countries. Most importantly Kenyans are united under the Black, White, Red and Green colours of the flag and the spirit of Harambee – which means pulling together as a community.
Traditional African beliefs play a significant role in the lives of Kenyans in spite of adoption of modern values. Kenyans practice traditional values of humility, concern for neighbors and maintenance of kinship ties. Beliefs in superstition are not common except deep in the rural areas. Activities such as marriage, child naming, burials and other rites of passage are still heavily influenced by traditional beliefs and practices and range from community to community.
Some communities have retained more of the traditional African lifestyle than others. They live in huts, walk barefoot, dress in robes and decorate their hair with colored soils. The Maasai tribe is famous for maintaining a nomadic way of life revolving around cattle and the search for pasture. This fiercely proud tribe of warriors has resisted numerous attempts at modernization and consequently has gained great respect (and curiosity) internationally.
A visit to the bustling cities, towns and villages of Kenya will be an eye opener to the determination of the people. Right from casual workers in sprawling industrial complexes to executives at the stock market and further onwards to the roadsides where men and women of all ages are earning a living for their families. Everyday has its fortunes: sometimes business is good, other times they walk home with nothing. Entrepreneurship is the locomotive engine behind these attributes of hard work and perseverance as Kenyans remain united in the quest for success and fulfillment.
Languages
Kenya is a linguistically diverse country where majority of population speak at least 3 languages. In addition to the 42 ethnic dialects, English is the official language while Swahili (Kiswahili) is the national language spoken by almost every Kenyan. Sheng a mixture of Swahili and English, with a bit of other indigenous languages is also commonly spoken in urban areas and has gained popularity amongst politicians and advertisements agencies who try to diversify their audience and target the youths.
Common Foods
Staple foods include; Ugali, Rice, Bread, Chapati, Nyama (Meats): Beef, Chicken, Goat, Samaki (Fish): Tilapia, Omena(Sardines) and Vegetables.
When in Kenya, most people will invite you to enjoy Nyama Choma- open fire Grilled Red Meat with Ugali (Cornmeal) and Sukumawiki (Collard Greens)
Arts & Crafts
Kenya is a hub for beautiful culturally inspired arts and crafts. Some of the items are sold as memorabilia to our visitors and they include: Sisal baskets, maasai bead jewelry, musical instruments, soapstone sculptures, animal wooden carvings, tribal masks, paintings and prints on batik clothes, sculptures, kangas-women’s wraparound skirts with beautiful patterns with swahili proverbs printed on them, kikoi textile sarongs and more.
TOURISM IN KENYA
Kenya has long been a world leader in tourism.
Accordingly, the Kenyan government’s stated policy is to conserve wildlife for posterity while giving due regard to human interests. Therefore, the government encourages self sustaining tourism that does not degrade the environment while at the same time reducing the conflicts between the local communities and wildlife. It is not surprising therefore that Kenya is one of the few touristic destinations that give visitors a veritable spectacle of wildlife that co-exists harmoniously with its human neighbours.
Wildlife in Kenya is not only a precious natural resource and heritage but it also makes Kenya the ultimate destination of unlimited adventure. Great names among them, Queen Elizabeth of Britain, Sir Winston Churchill, Theodore Roosevelt, Earnest Hemingway and others have lived with lasting memories of a land vivid with contrasts, with open wide spaces, snow capped mountains on the Equator, vast rolling plains teeming with wild animals that was and still is awe inspiring and cannot be rivaled anywhere else in the world.
The visits by these luminaries and Royalty have given the seal of approval of Kenya’s claim as Nature’s wonderland and the home of “Safari” which is a Kiswahili word meaning “journey”
Kenya is one of the world’s greatest tourism destinations, known for its remarkable diversity of landscapes, wildlife and cultures. From sweeping savannahs to tropical beaches and coral reef, dense equatorial forests to mighty mountains, endless opportunities for adventure and discovery and more, Kenya is a world in itself. In fact, Kenya is particularly attractive to the travelers as it offers a number of exciting journeys or popularly known as “Safaris”. Safaris range from wildlife safari to business and conference safari.
To read more about Kenya Tourism Health and Safety Protocols for the New Normal, please : CLICK HERE
SPORTS IN KENYA
Kenya is a great destination for sports. Kenya is known for having some of the greatest runners in the world. Tourists can also join Kenyan marathoners during their practice running on the hills of the Great Rift Valley. Kenya hosts many marathons throughout the year. Some races take place in the highlands, wilderness of National parks; e.g. the Safaricom Lewa Marathon combines community conservation and sports. You can visit: https://www.lewa.org Proceeds that come from the race go to development projects for the local community.
Marathon is not the only kind of sports found in Kenya. Visitors can participate or watch football, cricket, polo, horse racing, kayaking, golfing – Kenya has one of the greatest concentrations of international golf courses. Other sports found in Kenya; horse-riding, scuba diving, mountain climbing etc.
Sports are very important in the whole country as they are well ingrained in the culture and society of Kenya. From elementary school, there is at least one lesson per week of physical exercise in the curricula of primary and secondary school that is filled with various sports and games. This is probably the most enjoyable class.
Sports competitions among schools are organized regularly at the district, provincial and ultimately national level for all primary and secondary schools. Popular sports include racing, soccer, cricket, rugby, tennis, golf, hockey and tennis, swimming, boxing, martial arts, sailing, rowing, canoeing, cycling, speed skating. Kenya has participated in international competitions and has won several awards and medals in long distance learning and marathons.
The athletic department was established by presidential decree in 1987 and became operational in 1988. The department is headed by a Secretary of Sports at national level. The objective is to provide “a policy – and a legislative framework for the development of sports at all levels in the country and improve the management and human resource capacity in the sector. The sports ministry is also responsible for mobilizing Kenyans to participate in sports as a way of life and to cultivate and develop young talents in various kinds of sports.
Athletics is the sport par excellence of Kenya. In the town of Iten, where many practices the sport, athletics is the industry that supports the region. Many schools, clinics, petrol stations and hotels have been built with money from athletics. Iten has become a training ground for athletes throughout the world for its altitude (2,400 meters) and world famous athletes who come from there.
Kipchoge Arap Keino undoubtedly remains one of the best athletes from Kenya. He won 6 gold medals and two silvers in several international races. In 1987, he scooped the prize “Sportsman of the Year” and in 1996 was inducted into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame for his great work on his foundation that provides assistance to orphans and many other young people.
Several Kenyans have won marathons in the world as the London Marathon, New York, Sydney, Boston and Madrid.
Recently, Eliud Kipchoge broke the two hour INEOS marathon challenge.
For more infomation about sports and athletics in Kenya, you can visit: http://www.athleticskenya.or.ke, http://www.tourism.go.ke