Cultural Traditions In Kenya

This engaging book celebrates a year of holidays and traditions representing Kenya's many cultural groups. Readers will learn about the strong tradition of song and dance in Kenya and also how family occasions are celebrated in this African country. Teacher's guide available.

Kenya, a land of safaris, wild animals, and Maasai warriors, perfectly represents Africa for many Westerners. This peerless single-source book presents the contemporary reality of life in Kenya, an important East-African nation that has served as a crossroads for peoples and cultures from Africa, the Middle East, and East Asia for centuries. As such, it is a land rich in cultural and ethnic diversity, where unique and dynamic traditions blend with modern influences. Students and general readers will be engrossed in narrative overviews highlighting Kenyan history, as well as the beliefs, vibrant cultural expressions, and various lifestyles and roles of the Kenyan population. A chronology, glossary, and numerous photos enhance the narrative. Kenya today struggles with nation building. Its society comprises the haves and the have-nots and faces the challenges of the trend toward urbanization, with its attendant disruption of traditional social structures. For Kenyans, the preserving of traditional cultures is as important as making the statement that Kenya is a modern nation. Chapters on the land, people, and history; religion and worldview; literature, film, and media; art and architecture; cuisine and traditional dress; gender roles, marriage, and family; and social customs and lifestyle are up to date and written by a country expert. A chronology, glossary, and numerous photos enhance the narrative.

Culture Smart! Kenya provides a cultural bridge that will carry you beyond the gloss of the hotels and deep into the warp and weft of everyday life; beyond the game parks and into the intricacies of community and wildlife coexistence; beyond the bounds of tourism and into the freedom of cultural understanding and exchange. A true "insider’s take” gleaned over years of living and working in the country, it delivers key insights into the forces, ancient and modern, that have shaped Kenya--and practical guidance on how best to enter into the modern Kenyan business and social environment. Named after snow-capped Mount Kenya, the second-highest mountain in Africa, Kenya is fringed by the silver-blue strand of the Indian Ocean, studded with flamingo-flecked lakes, swathed in rolling savannah, and embraced by the last of the primordial rain forests. Stunningly scenic, steeped in history, a sportsman’s paradise, and a lover’s idyll, for over a century Kenya was a playground for royalty, millionaires, aristocrats, and eccentrics. Today, thanks to its high-action pursuits, cultural treasures, wealth of wildlife, and glorious beach life, it remains one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, and the unrivaled "safari capital of the world.” As to its people, Kenya is a cultural microcosm comprising more than seventy ethnic groups. Each has its own distinctive cultural identity, ranging from the red-cloaked hauteur of the Maasai to the heady coastal cocktail of the Swahili people. All extend the warmth of welcome that has proved to be Kenya’s most valuable asset to tourism.

In Kenya, cultural and natural heritage has a particular value. Its pre-historic heritage not only tells the story of man's origin and evolution but has also contributed to the understanding of the earth's history: fossils and artefacts spanning over 27 million years have been discovered and conserved by the National Museums of Kenya (NMK). Alongside this, the steady rise in the market value of African art has also affected Kenya. Demand for African tribal art has surpassed that for antiquities of Roman, Byzantine, and Egyptian origin, and in African countries currently experiencing conflicts, this activity invariably attracts looters, traffickers and criminal networks. This book brings together essays by heritage experts from different backgrounds, including conservation, heritage management, museum studies, archaeology, environment and social sciences, architecture and landscape, geography, philosophy and economics to explore three key themes: the underlying ethics, practices and legal issues of heritage conservation; the exploration of architectural and urban heritage of Nairobi; and the natural heritage, landscapes and sacred sites in relation to local Kenyan communities and tourism. It thus provides an overview of conservation practices in Kenya from 2000 to 2015 and highlights the role of natural and cultural heritage as a key factor of social-economic development, and as a potential instrument for conflict resolution

Kenya Art and Culture, a History. The People, Economy, Government and Politics. Today there are around 42 different tribes in Kenya, with varying cultural identities and traditions that have, in some cases, become intertwined over time due to similarities in language and a sharing of the same environment. Visitors to Kenya have the unique opportunity to spend days in the homes of various tribal villages, learning and participating in their daily lives, and even in some cases attending ceremonies. While in the past the development of national parks, in some cases, caused displacement of tribes from traditional grazing areas, today many are employed in the management of conservancies or rangers to protect the wildlife they once kept their cattle safe from

Kenya Art and Culture, a History. The People, Economy, Government and Politics. Today there are around 42 different tribes in Kenya, with varying cultural identities and traditions that have, in some cases, become intertwined over time due to similarities in language and a sharing of the same environment. Visitors to Kenya have the unique opportunity to spend days in the homes of various tribal villages, learning and participating in their daily lives, and even in some cases attending ceremonies. While in the past the development of national parks, in some cases, caused displacement of tribes from traditional grazing areas, today many are employed in the management of conservancies or rangers to protect the wildlife they once kept their cattle safe from

The Bukusu of Kenya: Folktales, Culture and Social Identities explores the social history in Bukusu folktales compiled in From Our Mothers'' Hearths: Bukusu Folktales and Proverbs. Folktales mirror life by reflecting what people do, what they think, and how they live, as well as what aspirations they hold; thus, they are both descriptive and prescriptive. The heroes of Bukusu tales are farmers, shepherds, stepmothers, husbands, orphans, ironsmiths, hunters, neglected wives, scheming stepmothers, shepherds, and barren women--ordinary people from all walks of life. For many Africans, structures and values in folktales affirm their cultural identity, drawing on familiar words and expressions. The Bukusu of Kenya shows how folktales bring value and pressures to behavior. For instance, except in a few tales, females rather than males fall prey to ogres, commit social breaches and require male direction and protection. Most stories depict the triumph of the despised and weak, such as orphans and neglected wives over those who abuse power or good fortune. Folktales offer a poignant critique of the pervasive consumerism and individualism in society, celebrating, collaboration, honesty, diligence, and familial ties. Tales integrate the ordinary and extraordinary, depict human interactions with and among animals and portray human control over both the animate and inanimate worlds. On the other hand, the conspicuous omission of other ethnic groups and the depiction of the inanimate as lesser beings create an ontological hierarchy. The vast range in tales, depicted social roles, and narrators testifies to the creative power of individuals and communities in defining and transforming the social structures in which they live. Growing interest in cross-cultural experiences and culturally-relevant pedagogy highlights the importance of books like The Bukusu of Kenya: Folktales, Culture and Social Identities. Folktales appeal to audiences across age, time, and location, providing a link to a heritage of tellers, listeners, writers, and readers. This book is part of the African World Series, edited by Toyin Falola, Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities, University of Texas at Austin. "As a School Board Administrator, I seek unique books and materials on people of African descent to recommend to teachers. Having read From Our Mothers'' Hearths: Bukusu Folktales and Proverbs (Florence, 2005), most of my teachers and students have been eagerly awaiting the follow-up. The Bukusu of Kenya: Folktales, Culture and Social Identities could not have come at a better time. Folktales have played a very important role in the Bukusu culture. This book is an important educational tool." -- Leonard Wandili, Program Officer International Languages and African Heritage, Ontario, Canada "I write to applaud the publication of this new book by Dr. Namulundah Florence. This book is another outstanding collection of Bukusu folktales coming soon after the remarkable From Our Mothers'' Hearths. The book serves as a permanent record of our culture, a long-awaited documentation of the values and aspiration of our forefathers captured and immortalized for future generations. The stories provide our people a rich resource from which they will not only learn and be entertained but will be guided for centuries to come.-- Everett Wakoli, Past President of Abeingo Association Canada "The Bukusu of Kenya: Folktales, Culture and Social Identities comes at a right time to enable Bukusus, especially the younger generation who may be eager to know their history, culture, tradition, music, marriage ceremonies, customs, etc. These folktales serve an educative role among the Bukusus of Kenya and connect the same people with the cultures and traditions of other tribes the world over. The growing cultural diversity in America calls for an acknowledgement of the origins but also contributions of individual groups to national traditions. Success in promoting cultural inclusiveness begins with training teachers from different locations but also knowledge of different traditions, many of which have shaped students'' lives. The market is ready for this book." -- Fr. Christopher Wanyonyi "Florence''s book offers an overview of Bukusu peoples'' beliefs and practices through time. The book celebrates our Bukusu cultural identity as much as it portrays the community''s aspirations. Other cultural groups acquire a glimpse of Bukusu core values. Such discussions create awareness about the need for a comprehensive cultural analysis. As an author, I have waited long for this research. -- F.E. Makila, Author of An Outline History of the Babukusu and Bukusu Folktales "In this book, Dr. Florence combines her literary training and her personal knowledge and experience of Bukusu life to produce an anthology rich in folklore, cultural traditions and social ethos. Though the focus is on the Bukusu community, the author also draws examples from other communities in the East African region. The product is certainly a document that will be of interest to students and professionals in cultural anthropology, sociology, literature, history, and comparative ethnography. The book should also be of interest to any reader out for leisure reading." -- Professor Simiyu Wandibba, Editor of History and Culture in Western Kenya: The People of Bungoma District Through Time