Traditional Entertainment of Kenya

With 42 tribes in Kenya, defining a particular entertainment as 'conventional' is almost not possible with out going into an excessive treatise on the topic. Every tribe has song, dance, costumes and musical instruments precise to their region. This post provides a short overview of the kinds of entertainment, some examples from numerous tribes and exactly where you can discover regular entertainment although you come to Kenya.

Song is a type of regular entertainment practically globally so it really is no surprise to obtain Kenyan tribes also singing. Every single of the 42 tribes has their personal language, so it's easy to inform exactly where the song is from... so lengthy as you can recognise the language! Across the tribes a single point is the very same: there are various beats and words for songs connected with the many ceremonies. This signifies that while a Kikuyu returns to his village and hears singing he can inform what is taking place. It does not imply even so that if a Taita goes to the Kikuyu village he will also be capable to inform what is taking place, unless he understands Kikuyu. So Every single tribe has circumcision songs, celebration songs, wedding songs, funeral songs, new child songs and so on.

Along with singing comes dancing and, once again, movements differ across the tribes. Kikuyus put on bells on their ankles with men and females pairing up, placing palms collectively and swaying. In Luhya culture, the dance is all about the shoulders and for Luos it really is about the hips. The Maasai men jump and it's a show of manliness if they can jump larger than their peers.

Dance is complemented by the regular costumes which are created from components identified in a tribe's location. Luo men put on grass skirts from the reeds by Lake Victoria and cow hide on their back. Towards the coast, Taita men put on kangas from the Swahili culture even though the ladies put on grass skirts. In the central highlands, the Kikuyus' costumes are a bit far more substantial to defend against the cold, with sheepskin hats confusing several travellers as they appear identical to the standard Russian hats! The men normally put on white and the ladies a brown-beige colour. Kikuyu men also carry swords and have a belt produced of animal skin to carry the sword.

Musical instruments typically accompany the singing and dancing and most men and women are familiar with the African drum. But there are even variations in how the drum is utilized across Kenya. For example, the Kamba sit with the drum in between their legs whilst the Luhya hold the drum under their arm. Kamba also use a whistle to signify a beat alter.

Story-telling is standard with the old men teaching lessons via stories to the young boys. These days comedy is becoming common, with sketches performed among music sets. The stories and sketches are normally set in daily circumstances that Kenyans can effortlessly relate to.

Bomas of Kenya wear a extended overall performance Every single afternoon which showcases singing, dancing, costumes and musical instruments from Every single of the tribes. Shade Hotel in Karen also does a much more informal afternoon of conventional entertainment Every single Sunday and on public holidays. If you go to a Maasai village on your safari, the villagers will perform a welcome dance for you. The Samburu villages do the exact same in northern Kenya. Lastly, the Lake Turkana Cultural Festival may be the very best chance to see various regular entertainment. A gathering of 14 tribes from northern Kenya, this Festival is a party of many cultures living with each other. They sing, they dance, they develop huts, they cook, they dress traditionally - it is great! It's held Each May well in Loiyangalani on the shore of Lake Turkana and effectively worth the journey.

Tracey is the owner of Overland Travel Adventures (OTA), a tour company primarily based in Nairobi, Kenya. She has travelled to over 50 nations and led tours in most of these. OTA focuses on engaging with the African continent rather than just viewing it by means of the window. OTA is associated with various neighborhood-primarily based organisations all through Kenya and incorporates visits to those projects into their itineraries. Pay a visit to the internet site http://www.ota-responsibletravel.com for a lot more data, or Like on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/OverlandTravelAdventures