Why Kenya Should Be Your Next Destination: Culture, Cuisine, and Connection
As with most other aspects of its culture, there is a great deal of diversity in how Kenyans dress. Traditional clothing in Kenya often carries much significance; it can indicate a person's age, marital status, gender, and community or tribe. There are unique textiles, intricate beadwork, and amazing ornamentation. Specific clothing may also be worn to indicate wealth or leadership. An example of traditional clothing is the dress of the Moran, warriors of the Maasai, who wear red to symbolize courage and strength and to scare off predators such as lions before they come close to the cattle on which the Maasai rely.
In cities, most people dress conservatively in long, loose-fitting clothing. One commonly seen item is the kitenge. Similar to a sarong, the kitenge is a colorfully printed cloth with edging along one side, frequently worn by women over the chest or waist, as a headscarf, or as a baby sling, among other uses. The kanga is a similar clothing item, made from a lighter fabric and worn by both women and men.
DANCE
Dancing carries a great deal of symbolism for many of Kenya's people. It appears in almost every celebration and often as part of spiritual practice, and is also used to teach and to tell stories, bring communities together, and express emotion.
Just a few of the many time-honored dances in Kenya include:
The Isukuti, performed by the Isukha and Idakho communities of Western Kenya at social events, symbolizing unity and the passing on of cultural values.
The Sikuti, a celebration dance performed by men and women of the Luyia people in rows to the beat of three drums.
The Chakacha, from the Kenyan coastal and Tanzanian Swahili, was traditionally performed and watched by women and associated with weddings.
In Western Kenya, the part of the country from which Faith hails, the Kisii's traditional dances were, and still are, performed in celebration and ritual. These dances include the Entaburuta, as seen above, being performed joyfully by several different groups of participants.
Every traditional dance is a part of a precious, thriving culture that honors life and its milestones and educates both community members and visitors by sharing Kenya's culture and traditions.
RELIGION
The majority of Kenyans are Christian, both Catholic and Protestant faiths, though many Christians blend their religion with African spirituality. Islam and Hinduism are also present, with the former more common in the northeast and coastal populations and the latter mostly found among the citizens of Nairobi and other major cities. Kenya's constitution supports religious freedom, and efforts by interfaith organizations encourage respect between religious communities.
Traditional religious beliefs vary among tribes and ethnic groups, but there are commonalities, such as the belief in a single creator and the honoring of ancestors as those who can bestow blessings on the living.
Despite the variation in religious faith and practices, there are core values that are shared by almost all Kenyans: the importance of kinship, the sacredness of humility, and concern for one's neighbors are some of the common themes of what is held to be important to good character.
CUISINE
Most Kenyans rely on plain, filling meals. Breakfast always includes delicious Chai tea, paired with boiled sweet potatoes or yams, matoke (boiled or otherwise cooked green bananas), or boiled organic eggs. A more indulgent morning meal might include mandazi, somewhat like an unsweetened doughnut — a treat found more in cities like Nairobi and rarely served in Kenyan villages.
One of the most common components of meals in Kenya is Ugali, a maize meal cooked in water until dough-like. Ugali is often eaten with meals that have gravy or sauces. Chapati, a flatbread of Indian origin, and samosas (similar to a fried dumpling), are often served to tourists but are not common staples for the majority of Kenyans, who might only eat these foods at holidays if at all.
Many Kenyan meals feature skuma wiki, made from a kale-like leafy vegetable. It's an inexpensive, healthy food that is often cooked in a beef gravy. Potatoes and rice are also served frequently.
The coastal cuisine in Kenya is distinctive, with fish and rice dishes flavored with tamarind and coconut appearing often, as well as spices that are less common in the rest of the country but found more often in these areas because of the Indian Ocean trade.
Kenyans drink tea, coffee, and sodas, just like people anywhere else in the world. Delicious fresh fruit juices are also available, particularly on the coast. For those who enjoy a brewed beverage, Kenya produces some excellent lagers, as well as a few notable pilsners, stouts, and ciders. (Always leave your bottle! They carry a deposit, and etiquette requires that they be left with the person or establishment who served them.) Kenya is not known for wine production, but Rift Valley Winery's Leleshwa is making a name for itself in that arena. Stay away from chang'aa, however, as it is a home-distilled spirit that can actually be dangerous and is therefore illegal.
A discussion of beverages in Kenya is not complete without mentioning the Dawa, the country's national cocktail (it can be non-alcoholic, though!) served throughout Kenya, and now found throughout Northern and Southern Africa. "Dawa" is a Swahili word that means "medicine" and can have the connotation of "magic potion" — a drinkable cure-all for whatever ails you. This drink is the Kenyan version of the Brazilian cocktail Caipirinha, though that drink contains different spirits. The Dawa is a masterful blend of African honey, vodka, brown sugar and muddled lime, absolutely delicious and refreshing.
MANNERS AND COURTESY
There are always differences from one country or region to another concerning what is considered courteous behavior. Here are a few generalities about polite conduct in Kenya:
Shaking hands is a greeting that is widely expected between men, and women generally shake hands with each other as well. Handshaking between individuals of different genders is not as common. An exchange of verbal greetings in which the parties inquire after one another's well-being is also commonplace, often lasting a bit longer than seen in other countries.
Answering a question with "no" can sometimes be seen as impolite, so it's better to simply avoid asking yes-or-no questions. Pointing with one finger is also seen as discourteous. Using the entire hand to point, with all fingers in the same direction, is acceptable.
As in many other countries, using the left hand to pass something to someone, to shake hands, or to eat is seen as impolite, downright rude, or unhygienic. Always use the right hand.
It's important to keep in mind that Western ideas about punctuality are not shared by the entirety of the rest of the world. In Kenya, it's common for there to be a much more laid-back attitude about time, to the point that it's often expected that visitors will come at least 30 minutes (Faith laughed and noted that 30 minutes was actually rather generous!) after their designated arrival time.
ART
Gorgeous arts and crafts, many of them rooted in history and traditions handed down for centuries or even millennia, are a large part of Kenyan culture. Carvings of wood or soapstone, pottery and beadwork, handmade musical instruments and woven baskets, jewelry and meticulously painted tribal masks, all displaying remarkably intricate craftsmanship, are just a small sample of what may be seen when traveling through the country.
For nomadic tribes, many customs involve the elaborate decoration of everyday items. And some of the most amazing art in Kenya is personal adornment, such as body painting and incredibly complex and beautiful hair styling. The details of these styles, as with clothing, can indicate personal information such as status.
While the significance and excellence of traditional art there cannot be overstated, modern art is also thriving in Kenya. Tingatinga art, for instance, which had its start in the 1960s with the late Edward Saidi Tingatinga, is a widely popular and diverse genre of Kenyan artistry.
Galleries, art festivals, workshops, and museums in Kenya all celebrate the beauty and history of the country's art, its diversity and its rich and complex heritage.
LIKE NOWHERE ELSE
In addition to its breathtaking natural beauty and the majesty of its wildlife, the intricate and complex culture of Kenya has so much to offer visitors. There is no other country on earth where one can experience this unique mixture of contemporary and traditional ways of life, and few where one can find such welcoming and incredible people.
To experience the real Kenya, visit Pick-A-Safari and find your perfect safari. From solo traveler adventures to family journeys, the trip of a lifetime is waiting for you in Kenya.
Written by Tina Harmuth
