It was pomp and color
as Rabai community among the Mijikenda inKenya marked its cultural new year, a
day characterized by smearing of ash on houses to mark a new beginning.
Lined in the exhibition
usually are natural traditional foods, dance and equipments used before the
coming of technology among other traditional medication practices.
The New Year was celebrated
on 22nd October, but was prolonged dubbed Rabai cultural week with activities
running from 18th to 26th October with a climax being traditional
dance competition and football match for the young generation.
With the African community risking the loss of their culture due to what is said modern world, the event is expected to encourage the African Rabai community to embrace their tradition under the theme “Cultural preservation through modernization”.
on 18th there was what is called “kutsangira mwaka” meaning ‘welcoming the year’ which was be spearheaded by Kaya elders in the morning hours to clean the roads leading to “Kaya mudzi muvya “ a cultural village center in the kaya forest launched recently.
Also accompanying this exercise is the construction of what is called by the Rabai community as
Kadzumba ka vitumbakazi.
On 20th the kaya elders lead a ritual ceremony at Mwareni in Chang’ombe accompanied by a rare dance called Ngoto dance which is played once every year or during cultural activities to deal with evil spirits.
Among the key activities associated with this Rabai celebration is “kumwagira urunzi” (smearing of ash to the walls of every house) done in the morning of the New Year; an activity they believe is welcoming of blessings.
However, dancing competition ‘Kutsomana’ will be on going between 23rd to 25th where members of various traditional dance.
According to the curator, Rabai Museum, William Tsaka noted that climax of the celebrations are expected to be conducted at Mkapuni council grounds on the 26th.
With the African community risking the loss of their culture due to what is said modern world, the event is expected to encourage the African Rabai community to embrace their tradition under the theme “Cultural preservation through modernization”.
on 18th there was what is called “kutsangira mwaka” meaning ‘welcoming the year’ which was be spearheaded by Kaya elders in the morning hours to clean the roads leading to “Kaya mudzi muvya “ a cultural village center in the kaya forest launched recently.
Also accompanying this exercise is the construction of what is called by the Rabai community as
Kadzumba ka vitumbakazi.
On 20th the kaya elders lead a ritual ceremony at Mwareni in Chang’ombe accompanied by a rare dance called Ngoto dance which is played once every year or during cultural activities to deal with evil spirits.
Among the key activities associated with this Rabai celebration is “kumwagira urunzi” (smearing of ash to the walls of every house) done in the morning of the New Year; an activity they believe is welcoming of blessings.
However, dancing competition ‘Kutsomana’ will be on going between 23rd to 25th where members of various traditional dance.
According to the curator, Rabai Museum, William Tsaka noted that climax of the celebrations are expected to be conducted at Mkapuni council grounds on the 26th.
This is after night out
known as ‘Kularira mwaka’ which was conducted on the eve of the new year which
was held at Mwamumba village where the community enjoy the natural coconut
wine.
He said, “We opted for
a full week to empower and educate the young generation and our visitors on the
richness of our traditions and how our people used to do before the coming of
Christianity and Islam. “
With the coming of devolved system of government Rabai community have embarked o various measures to shore case their culture to the outside world.
With the coming of devolved system of government Rabai community have embarked o various measures to shore case their culture to the outside world.
Funding
The Rabai museum
curator challenged the Kilifi county government to consider allocating of funds
to sell the local culture of the communities within the county.
“there is need to support
conservation of local culture at all level as compared to the one given to miss
tourism” adviced Tsaka.
Speaking to Kilifian, the
principal curator at Fort Jesus, national monument, Mbarak Abdulqadir Abdallah,
noted the best thing to different between two African communities is through
their cultural practice.
“It’s high time we
embrace our native culture to stand out from others as the traditions are
different among African communities.” He said
Abdallah urged all communities
to start a similar celebration to sell out their culture adding that cultural
tourism has been embraced in recent days which give visitors a chance to
interact with the locals and learn different African practice.
He challenged on the
need for both central and county government to promote cultural tourism which
according to him Masaai culture has been uplifted despite Kenyan communities
having more unique cultural practices.
end
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