The People of Kenya

Of Kenyas population of 37 million people, about 3 million live in the capital Nairobi, almost 1 million in Mombasa and almost half a million people live in Kisumu. The rest of the population live in the countryside – the central province and western region being the most fertile and most populated.

As in most of Subsaharan Africa women are is often seen balancing goods on their head when walking longer distances

Tribes and Languages of Kenya

Kenya is home to 42 different tribes, each with its own language and rich cultural traditions. Some of the best-known tribes include the Kikuyu, Luo, Luhya, Meru, Kamba, Turkana, Taita, Digo, and Samburu. The Samburu people share the Maa language with the Maasai.

Kiswahili and English

Kiswahili and English are Kenya’s official languages. A large part of the population speaks both languages fluently. Many Kenyans also speak one or more tribal languages, making the country one of the most linguistically diverse nations in Africa.

Generally speaking

Generally speaking most Kenyans outside the coastal and eastern provinces are Christian of one sort or another, while most of the people on the coast as well as in eastern Kenya are Muslim.

Fishermen in Lake Naivasha compete with the pelicans about the fish

There are a wealth of places to go out in kenya and most people love to dance

Many Kenyans love to go out and mobile phones have become widespread in Kenya. People generally takes great pride in their appearance and the nightlife in big cities like Nairobi and Mombasa is very lively and you will find it hard to resist the funky, sweaty and groovy beats from the local DJ’s.

Both Masai and Samburus seem to fashion their traditional outfits more than many of the other tribes in kenya and they attract the attention when walking around in a town dressed in strong red colors, wearing lots of bracelets, a sword, a runku (a club made out of hard wood). In former times eg. the Kikuyus also had quite exotic looking attires where the leaders of the clan wore capes made from the fur from Black and white Colobus monkeys over their shoulders, but nowadays most urban living Kenyans tend to like to wear either the conservative “officelook” or maybe a more streetsmart and hip clothing style.

Music is everywhere in Kenya and it is often heard from many of the small shops in the street, from a ghettoblaster on a wheel-barrel on the market, inside almost every Matatu or live. The West African Lingala music is very popular as is local artists like Tony Nyadundo. Above is some local musicians in Kisumu playing on self-made electric guitars that are wired to a radio for amplification

Visiting a Maasai Village

Many safari itineraries include a visit to a nearby Maasai village outside the national park. These visits offer a great opportunity to learn about the traditional lifestyle of the local community.

Tourists visiting the Maasai Mara can often join a guided tour of a manyatta, a traditional Maasai homestead. Visitors are invited to see the village, look inside the family homes, and learn about Maasai customs and daily life. Photography is usually permitted, and many villages charge an entrance fee of around USD 30 per person. This fee helps support the local community.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Masai warriors showing off their vitality and strength by jumping high into the air to the rhythmic voices from the embracing crowd

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>When living amongst big predators like lions the Masais needs to be able to defend themselves and their livestock from attacks – here a Masai warrior reversed his spear in order not to damage the sharp blades when demonstrating his throwing technique</span></span></span></span></span>

Tourists often wants to know if the Masais are really dressed like that every day or if they’ve just put up a show to meet the tourists expectations. The truth is yes and no. Many Masai still in 2010 take great pride in wearing a traditional dress while maybe carrying a Nokia cellphone underneath it. Traditionally young Masai men had to kill a lion in order to become a warrior (moraan) and from that practise the lions have come to fear humans and they will most often shy away when they see men in red dresses like the Masais.

The warriors have great fun when dancing and jumping the highest

Maasai Traditions Today

Today, most Maasai red garments are factory-made. Few people still weave their clothing by hand because ready-made garments are widely available and inexpensive. Some young Maasai wear wigs to resemble the traditional moran (Maasai warrior), while others have earned university degrees.

Despite these modern influences, many Maasai families continue to follow their traditional way of life. They sleep on cowhide bedding, cook over a small fire inside their homes, and live in traditional manyattas. Their diet commonly includes milk, sometimes mixed with blood, along with beef and vegetables.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>A group of Masai warriors preparing for a traditional dancing and singing ceremony – the leader blowing a horn from a kudu while wearing a hat made out of a lions mane&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>&lt;/span>

Maasai Culture and Wildlife

Samburu girls, Ol’Doinyo – Laikipia District in Kenya

Nomadic life has been a fundamental circumstance to survive in mostly arid Kenya. Nevertheless the different tribes have specialized knowledge about how to survive in the most harsh conditions. Nonregarding which part of the country they are from, the Kenyans will most likely greet you with a big smile and say “Karibu” meaning welcome in Kiswahili.

Nomads in Turkana region waving to tourists

The people of Northern Kenya

One of the most remarkable tribes your will meet when travelling into Kenyas Northern Frontier District is the Samburu. Related to the Masai, the Samburus have many similarities regarding cultural practices, adornments and language but while the masais are easily recognizable from red cloaks, the Samburus wears white, red or blue cloaks.

Samburus making fire by rolling a stick in a small hole in a special kind of wood

The first adornment for any Samburu in life is a Lkereti or wrist belt for the newborn. Lkereti means dewclaw and it is the degenerated finger just above the hoof and it is worn on the right wrist.

Samburu performing a traditional song and dance</span>

Samburu moran (warrior) with a traditional headdress in Ol’Doinyo, Laikipia District

Samburu Adornments and Traditions

Traditional Samburu adornments reflect a person’s gender, age, and social status. For example, the Samburu believe that uncircumcised boys should not be overly concerned with their appearance. As a result, they are not expected to dress elaborately.

Before circumcision, boys begin singing a traditional circumcision song called Leberta. During this important period, they wear special black cloaks and other ceremonial adornments.

Maawa are decorative flowers made from cloth or plastic. They are attached to the head of a moran (Samburu warrior) with a small comb. Some morans also wear charms made of plastic or even small battery-powered lights instead of the traditional flowers.

The Sirayo is a feather, often taken from a guinea fowl. It is traditionally worn by morans and uncircumcised boys as part of their ceremonial attire.

Turkana girls in front of a traditional house

The newly circumcized boys are called Laibartani and they change adornments, but still wear the black cloaks.

A local style house outside Loiyangalani</span>

Aside from the colorful people, one of the most prominent features of Northern kenya is the camels

Camels are incredibly sturdy animals and therefore perfectly adapted to the harsh conditions in the desertlike Northern Kenya.

Inside a Samburu Manyatta</span>

Muslim man sitting in the street, Isiolo</span>

 

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>The Kenyan coast is sometimes being called the Swahili Coast and there are strong influences during centuries from Arabia, India and Europe