Culture and Heritage

Introduction to Culture and Heritage Experiences

Introduction

Visitors can expect the Kenyan’s hospitable nature to enhance their travels, from the constant friendly Swahili greeting “Jambo” to receiving a safari wakeup call with a hand-delivered hot cup of Kenyan coffee. Foreign visitors are interesting to native Kenyans, and Caucasian travelers (“mzungus” in Swahili) can easily draw friendly attention. Clients can experience personal interactions with the Maasai, Samburu, Swahili, Turkana, Pokot, El Molo, Rendille, and other indigenous tribes through a village visit to learn about customs and life of an everyday Kenyan. They could even observe a real Maasai wedding if they so desire! Gathering insight into this living culture provides travelers with an amazing understanding of this country and its people, many of whom live side-by-side with animals in nature. It’s all part of the Kenyan travel experience.

Kenya Ethnic Tribes

Kenya boasts both cultural and natural diversity. It is home to more than 42 different ethnic groups. If you were to travel across the country, you’d see the Indian Ocean, towering mountains, and vast savannas. You will hear over 60 different languages. You will taste the unique flavors of the many different types of Kenyan food. It is a truly diverse and vibrant country.

The Kenyan culture, which has evolved over the centuries, is rich and very much alive. It can be seen in the visual arts, applied arts, Kenyan food, music, dance, sports, fashion, literature, theatre, and the Kenyan people.

****Suggestion for image: A collage of different ethnic groups in Kenya, showcasing their traditional attire and activities.****

Art & Craft

The Kenyan culture can be seen through the arts and crafts designed by different communities. They are made of locally available materials and include woodcarvings, beaded necklaces, bracelets, masks, baskets, figurines, etc. At the Nairobi National Museum, you can experience Kenya’s rich cultural heritage through artifacts. There are also prints and paintings done by local artists.

****Suggestion for image: Various Kenyan crafts such as beaded jewelry, woodcarvings, and baskets.****

Music & Dances

Every community in Kenya has its own music and dance, and all you have to do to get a glimpse of the country’s musical diversity is tune into any of the more than 10 vernacular radio stations.

Various restaurants in town have theme nights when music from a particular community is exclusively played. Since the early 1990s, Kenya’s contemporary music started to grow, and today it is among the most vibrant in Africa. This can be experienced in the different cultural festivals in different parts of the country. (Must-attend cultural festivals and events are included in the list)

****Suggestion for image: A traditional Kenyan dance performance.****

Literature & Theatre

There are many books about Kenya that portray the country’s rich culture. Some of the notable titles include "Facing Mount Kenya" by Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s first President, "Wizard of the Crow" by Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o, "Out of Africa" by Karen Blixen (also known by the pseudonym of Isak Dinesen), which inspired the Oscar-winning movie of the same name, and "Unbowed" by Wangari Maathai, the winner of the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize.

Every year, the Kenya National Drama Festival is held across the country. The co-curricular activity, which is run by the Ministry of Education, aims to tap and nurture creative talent among the Kenyan youth.

****Suggestion for image: A scene from a Kenyan theatre performance or a book fair.****

Fashion

The rich cultural fabric provides a perfect canvas for creativity and fashion that has resulted in a lot of fashionable products produced in Kenya, whether it’s for decorating homes, offices, open spaces, for daily use, or for wearing such as bracelets, clothing, and accessories. For example, Kiondos – woven handbags made from sisal with leather trimmings are popular locally and internationally.

Popular textiles include Kangas – women’s wraparound skirts with beautiful patterns, often with Kenyan proverbs imprinted on them, and kikois – a type of men’s sarong that comes in many different colors and textiles. Shopping in the Maasai markets for fashion items, and at fashion events such as Kenya Fashion Week where renowned Kenyan designers showcase their best pieces.

****Suggestion for image: A display of traditional Kenyan fashion items such as Kangas, kikois, and Kiondos.****

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

UNESCO as World Heritage Sites

The natural sites are designated by UNESCO as World Heritage Sites because of their importance in cultural, historical, natural, and archaeological value. The cultural sites include: the Lamu Old Town, Fort Jesus, The Sacred Kayas of Mijikenda, and Thimlich Ohinga Archeological Site. The natural sites are Kenya’s Lake System in the Great Rift Valley (Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Elementaita), Lake Turkana National Parks, and Mt. Kenya National Park/Natural Forest.

Lake Turkana

Being the most saline of East Africa’s large lakes, Turkana is an outstanding laboratory for the study of plant and animal families. The three National Parks serve as a stopover for migrant waterfowl and are major breeding grounds for the Nile crocodile, hippopotamus, and a variety of venomous snakes. The Koobi Fora deposits, rich in mammalian, molluscan, and other fossil remains, have contributed more to the understanding of paleo-environments than any other site on the continent. The Lake Turkana National Parks were inscribed onto the World Heritage List in 1997.

Breathtaking colors, flora, and fauna

Lake Turkana National Parks consist of Sibiloi, the South and Central Islands, covering a total area of 161,485 hectares, all located within the Lake Turkana basin whose total surface area is 7 million hectares. The Lake is the largest desert lake in the world, surrounded by an arid, seemingly extraterrestrial landscape that is often devoid of life.

The long body of Lake Turkana drops down along the Rift Valley from the Ethiopian border, extending 249 kilometers from north to south and 44 km at its widest point, with an average depth of 30 meters. It is Africa’s fourth largest lake, fondly called the Jade Sea because of its breathtaking color.

A discovery site at Lake Turkana. At Koobi Fora, extensive paleontological finds have been made, starting in 1969 with the discovery of Paranthropus boisei. The discovery of Homo habilis thereafter is evidence of the existence of a relatively intelligent hominid two million years ago, and reflects the change in climate from moist forest grassland to the present hot desert.

These and many more discoveries have been made by NMK researchers in partnership with external parties. Today, all research collections are housed in NMK and are available for further research.

****Suggestion for image: A panoramic view of Lake Turkana with its unique jade color and surrounding arid landscape.****

Mount Kenya National Park and Forest

With its rugged glacier-clad summits and forested middle slopes, Mount Kenya is one of the most impressive landscapes in East Africa. The National Park and Forest, founded in 1949, was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1997. The aim was to protect Mount Kenya, along with its wildlife and environment. The natural environment is crucial as a natural habitat for the animal species that live in the area. It also acts as a water catchment area that provides water to Kenya and is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

The second highest peak in Africa

Mount Kenya straddles the equator about 193 km north-east of Nairobi and about 480 km from the Kenyan coast. At 5,199 m, Mount Kenya is the second highest mountain in Africa and is an ancient extinct volcano.

****Suggestion for image: A view of Mount Kenya with its glacier-clad summits and forested slopes.****

Lamu Old Town

Lamu Old Town is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, retaining its traditional functions. Built in coral stone and mangrove timber, the town is characterized by the simplicity of structural forms, enriched by such features as inner courtyards, verandas, and elaborately carved wooden doors. Lamu has hosted major Muslim religious festivals since the 19th century and has become a significant center for the study of Islamic and Swahili cultures. Lamu old town was gazetted on 20/6/1986 and added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2001.

Exploring the narrow streets and alleyways

The town is characterized by narrow streets and alleyways that only allow for movement by foot or donkey. The town's architecture and stone buildings are influenced by a fusion of Swahili, Arabic, Persian, Indian, and European building styles. Unlike other Swahili settlements which have been abandoned along the East African coast, Lamu has continuously been inhabited for over 700 years. Lamu was once an important trading center in Islamic coastal East Africa, dating back to the twelfth century. It is a major reservoir of Swahili culture, whose inhabitants have managed to sustain their traditional values as demonstrated by their sense of social unity and cohesion.

Lamu boasts several historic sites, including the German Post Office, the Lamu Museum, and the Lamu Fort.

****Suggestion for image: A street view of Lamu Old Town showcasing its narrow alleyways and traditional Swahili architecture.****

Mijikenda Kaya Forests

The Mijikenda Kaya Forests consist of 11 separate forest sites, spread over some 200 km along the coast. They contain the remains of numerous fortified villages, known as kayas, of the Mijikenda people. The kayas, created in the 16th century but abandoned by the 1940s, are now regarded as the abodes of ancestors, revered as sacred sites and, as such, are maintained by councils of elders. These sites were inscribed to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008.

Repositories of the Mijikenda people's spiritual beliefs

Spread out along around 200km of the coastal region of Kenya are ten separate forested sites, mostly on low hills, ranging in size from 30 to around 300 hectares, in which are the remains of fortified villages, Kayas, of the Mijikenda people. They represent more than thirty surviving Kayas.

****Suggestion for image: A view of one of the Mijikenda Kaya Forests with dense vegetation and remnants of fortified villages.****

The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley

The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2011. It is a natural property of outstanding beauty, comprising three inter-linked, relatively shallow lakes (Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru, and Lake Elementaita), and covers a total area of 32,034 hectares. Some of the world’s greatest diversities and concentrations of bird species are recorded within these relatively small lake systems.

Astonishing landscapes

Major tectonic and volcanic events have shaped the distinctive landscape, which is a place for discovery.

Wildlife wonders

The lakes have large mammal populations and are recognized as a valuable place for the study of ecological processes of major importance. It's possible to spot black rhinos, Rothschild’s giraffes, greater kudus, lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs.

Flamingos, pelicans, and birdlife

For most of the year, up to 4 million lesser flamingos move between the three shallow lakes in an outstanding wildlife spectacle. Surrounded by hot springs, geysers, and the steep escarpment of the Rift Valley with its volcanic outcrops, the natural setting of the lakes provides an exceptional experience of nature. The lakes are home to 13 globally threatened bird species and some of the highest bird diversities in the world. It is the single most important foraging site for the lesser flamingo anywhere, and a major nesting and breeding ground for great white pelicans.

****Suggestion for image: A view of one of the lakes in the Great Rift Valley with flamingos and other bird species.****

Fort Jesus, Mombasa: An Architectural Masterpiece

Built by the Portuguese at the end of the 16th century, Fort Jesus stands at the southern edge of Mombasa, over a spur of coral rock. It was kept under Portuguese control for one century and is testimony to the first successful attempt by Western civilization to rule the Indian ocean trade routes – which, until then, had remained under Eastern influence. This historical site was gazetted on 12/6/1970 and inscribed to the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2011. Currently, one can relive the history of the Fort through the Sound and Light Show at the Fort in the evenings.

Architecture built by the Portuguese

The Fort – built by the Portuguese in 1593-1596, to Giovanni Battista Cairati's designs, to protect the port of Mombasa – is one of the most outstanding and well-preserved examples of 16th-century Portuguese military fortification, and a landmark in the history of this type of construction.

The Fort’s layout and form reflected the Renaissance ideal that perfect proportions and geometric harmony are to be found in the human body. The property covers an area of 2.36 hectares and includes the fort’s moat and immediate surroundings.

Fort Jesus, Mombasa, bears physical witness, in its structures and subsequent transformations, to the interchange of cultural values and influences between and among peoples of African, Arab, Turkish, Persian, and European origin, who fought to gain and maintain their control over this strategic port.

****Suggestion for image: A view of Fort Jesus showcasing its architectural design and surrounding moat.****

Thimlich Ohinga Archaeological Site

Thimlich Ohinga cultural site was gazetted as a national monument on 4/6/1982 and added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2018. Thimlich Ohinga refers to a “frightening dense forest” in Dholuo language, a Nilotic group who occupy the region. The stone structure enclosure has walls ranging from 1.0 to 4.2 meters in height, which were built of loose stones and blocks without any dressing or mortar.

Built by communities

Archaeological records of materials found within the site go beyond 500 years ago. Since the present inhabitants of the area arrived probably some three centuries ago, it seems most likely that Bantus – who initially occupied this region prior to the arrival of Luos – first built the stone structures. Abundant rocks on the hilly areas provided them with building materials to meet their security requirements.

Subsequently, communities that moved into this region in the period between the 15th and 19th centuries carried out repair work and modification on the structures. However, all these episodes of occupation and repair did not interfere with the architecture and preservation of the structures.

During the first quarter of the twentieth century, the abandonment of Ohingni started en mass. No more stone structures were constructed, and consequently some stone structures were reduced to mere traces of circumferences or disappeared altogether. Thimlich Ohinga is one of the few stone structures that survived.

****Suggestion for image: A view of Thimlich Ohinga with its stone structures and surrounding landscape.****

EVENTS & FESTIVALS

Kenya is a hotspot of colourful and exciting events and festivals. The rich and diverse cultures found in the destination bring with them many events and festivals that celebrate the uniqueness of our art, fashion, sports, ceremonies such as rites of passage, and food. This makes for great travel experiences.

They also provide a way of preserving these cultures from generation to generation. Travellers get a chance to interact with Kenyans through these events and festivals organized within various remote locations, cities, and towns, with each one being as uplifting, vibrant, and colourful as the next.

****Suggestion for image: A vibrant festival scene with people in traditional attire.****

Besides celebrating the diverse cultures, some of the events are focused on conservation of the environment and wildlife in different parts of the country. Some of the events and festivals include:

• Lamu Cultural Festival held in November every year
• “Toboung’lore” – Lake Turkana Festival held in May every year
• International Maralal Camel Derby held in August every year
• Lewa Marathon held in June every year
• Rusinga Island Festival held in December every year
• Lamu Yoga Festival held in March every year
• Stanchart Nairobi Marathon held in October every year

MUSEUMS, MONUMENTS AND PRE-HISTORIC SITES

Cradle of Humankind

Kenya is considered by many anthropologists to be the Cradle of Humankind due to the fact that it has more fossil human remains (approximately 1,000) than any other country in Africa and the largest collection of human-related fossils anywhere in the world, which can be found at Nairobi National Museum in Nairobi.

To be sure, there are scores of archaeological sites near Lake Turkana in the northern part of the country. In fact, Lake Turkana National Parks are a UNESCO World Heritage site as they are the location of one historic anthropological find after another.

Together the parks consist of Sibiloi National Park, the South Island, and the Central Island National Parks and are located within the Lake Turkana basin whose total surface area is over 27,000 sq. miles.

****Suggestion for image: A map showing the location of Lake Turkana and its national parks.****

The lake itself is the most saline lake in East Africa and the largest desert lake in the world, surrounded by an arid landscape that is frequently devoid of life. The long body of Lake Turkana extends along the Rift Valley from the Ethiopian border, 154 miles from north to south and 27 miles at its widest point with a depth of about 100 ft. It is Africa's fourth largest lake, commonly called the Jade Sea due to its gorgeous green colour.

Not only does the region possess distinct geological features with as many as one hundred identified archaeological and paleontological sites, but the current conditions in Lake Turkana National Parks provide habitats for a range of diverse flora and fauna. The island parks are the breeding habitats of the Nile crocodile, the hippopotamus, and several snake species. The lake is also an important flyway passage and stopover for several species of migrant birds.

****Suggestion for image: A panoramic view of Lake Turkana with its green waters.****

Museums & Sites

Kenya has 20 national museums spread across the country. The museums showcase the diverse natural and cultural heritage of the country that visitors can enjoy during their stay. Some of the top museums include Nairobi National Museum & Snake Park, Fort Jesus, Karen Blixen Museum, Kisumu Museum, Kapenguria Museum, and Desert Museum among others.

Kenya also boasts as the cradle of humankind given its numerous findings of the early man along the Rift Valley. Other sites are part of Kenya’s rich heritage e.g. during the pre-colonial period. Some of these sites include Olorgesailie, Takwa Ruins, Thimlich Ohinga, Songhor, Siyu Fort, Jumba La Mtwana, Koobi Fora, Mnarani, and Uhuru Gardens.

****Suggestion for image: A collage of various museums and historical sites in Kenya.****