Communities from Northern Kenya have celebrated a year of tranquility with songs, food and dance while calling for continued coexistence and equitable sharing of available resources.
The various pastoral communities that have for generations’ endured resource based conflicts back at home assembled in Nanyuki Town, Laikipia County in a colorful ceremony to mark the end of a peaceful year.
They held a procession in town before assembling at the Nanyuki NG-CDF Hall to showcase their rich cultural heritage in an event dubbed Cushitic Cultural Day.
The participants were adorned with colorful Cushitic speaking communities that showcased their elegance and their way of living.
‘’We have embraced our ancestors’ way of dressing and today we are showcasing varieties of items for the people to see our way of living. They are very distinct from other communities,” said Jamila Mohammed, one of the participants of the highly decorated festival.
Participants were drawn from Rendile, Samburu, Somali, Borana, Galle, Sekuye, Gabra, Maasai, Burji and Swahili communities with each of them displaying traditional foods and artifacts.
Ms Ailo Waqo of the Bhuji community explained that women had prepared a variety of traditional cuisine as a way of demonstrating their rich cultural heritage, with each meal having a unique purpose.
“The Bhurji are Agro-pastoralists, we farm, keep livestock and engage in business across the country. Most of our dishes are medicinal since we rely on natural manure from our livestock”, noted Waqo.
Former Treasury Cabinet Secretary Ukur Yatani graced the ceremony where he commended the women for the initiative noting that it would go a long way in promotion of harmonious coexistence and preservation of cultural heritages which are threatened with extinction.
“We have come here to remind ourselves about our traditional cuisine, dwelling and homestead set ups, clothing and artifacts that define our Cushitic communities,” said Former CS.
The women led initiative; Yattani said that it will go a long way in protecting their rich culture practices that were facing extinction.
They emphasized the need for the communities to promote peace both while in the diaspora and while at their native homes by desisting from engaging in vices such as cattle rustling and banditry which has been the cause of hostility among the pastoralists.
“Nanyuki is a cosmopolitan town that hosts people from all corners of Kenya. This diversity should be our strength in building our united country for future generations,” he urged.
Organisers of the event, Dream Team Group, announced that it will be conducted annually as a forum to promote peace and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the community including languages.
by Muturi Mwangi
