Referring to the unique ways in which people of various ethnic and social groups in Kenya represent their experiences and act creatively, the culture in Kenya is very much alive.
Significantly different for people living in rural and urban areas, the culture in Kenya is in its infancy and only recently have Kenyans come to appreciate their diverse and rich culture.
Farming in rural Kenya
Since most of the art and crafts displayed and sold in urban Kenyan towns were originally made in rural areas, perhaps rural Kenya has the greatest cultural potential. However, this is far from the case as most of the culture is mainly available in the urban areas of Kenya. Various arts and crafts include:
-
Handmade baskets popularly known as Kiondosâ
-
Handwoven rugs and rugs with coconut leaves and sisal
-
Hand-knitted garments such as sweaters, baby socks, balaclavas, gloves, scarves and quilts, etc.
-
pottery
In addition to art, rural cultural activities also include:
-
Sing and dance during various ceremonies such as weddings, dowries, circumcision, funerals, and baby showers.
There is a slight distinction between working time and free time in rural Kenya. You are more likely to find a woman making pots or baskets to sell in her spare time than a man chiseling a soapstone to make a piece of art to sell in her spare time.
Culture in urban Kenya
Urban culture in is a whole different ball game. Characterized by diversity, culture in urban settings, such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Eldoret, is highly available.
Films
Watching a movie is considered a cultural activity in Kenya and is enjoyed mainly by the upper and middle classes. Theaters located in major cities in Kenya include:
-
Cinema and snacks in Kitale
-
Cinemax crossover of the century
-
Planet Media Westgate Cinemas
-
Starflix Prestige Square
-
Fox Cineplex Sarit Center
-
Nyali Cinemax
-
Fox Cineplex Capital Center
-
IMAX 20th century
-
Starflix Town Market
Museums and art galleries
Cultural centers like the National Archives of Kenya, National Theaters of Kenya and Bomas of Kenya, etc., display various cultural artifacts and traditions of the 42 tribes of Kenya.
-
Rahimtulla Museum of Modern Art (RaMoMA)
-
Diani Beach Art Gallery
-
strong jesus
-
desert mess
-
paxtu
-
Mount Kenya Art Gallery
live theater
Although most Kenyans are not theatergoers and theater culture is sparse, there are movie theaters showing up in various urban cities for live theatrical performances.
-
Live acts and plays by local and international actors at the National Theaters of Kenya and Alliance Francaise.
-
Popular theater groups are the Phoenix Players and the Heartstrings Ensemble.
-
- The theaters include
- Cinema Moons
-
Embassy Cinema
-
Nu-Metro (Kenya) Ltd
-
Nyahururu Cinema, Indo African Theaters Ltd
-
Odeon Cinema
-
lotus cinema
-
Kenyan Cultural Center
-
Pan-nes cinema
-
Indo African Theaters Ltd
-
and phoenix players ltd
Music
Day or night there are concerts and live music available.
-
Local and international music festivals. The popular music festival includes Afro-based Blankets & Wine, among others.
-
Theme night events showcasing different traditions, music and food from various tribes such as Mugithi night (Kikuyu tribe), Ramogi night (Luo), Nubian night (Nubi), Coastal night and Mulembe night (Luhya), etc.
-
Every year, schools, colleges, and universities hold cultural programs, cultural weeks, and drama festivals, where students present their cultural creativity in the form of song, dance, acting, choral, storytelling, painting, fashion, and design.
—
