Syokimau Cultural Centre

Preserving Culture through Story Telling

Syokimau Cultural Center is guided by the Theory of Myth Values, a culture-based world view to help you understand how you and the world around you stand as it is today. The theory is based on the belief that if we can understand the past more thoroughly, we will better understand the present, and better prepare for the future as individuals and as communities of the world.

Learn more about the theory
01

Story
Circle

Our stories, ourselves, our society.

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02

Miadi
Poems

A place to share poems.

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03

Cultural
Events

Many more events to come.

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WELCOME TO SYOKIMAU CULTURAL CENTRE

The centre provides an opportunity to learn identify the stories that have affected and still continue to influence your life. Although we are hardly aware of it stories that we hear and tell are the building blocks of our lives. Whether we approach our lives with fear and hopelessness or with confidence, faith and hope, depends on the values we carry from the stories we hear and tell. The Centre’s work is guided by the Theory of Myth Values, a culture-based world view to help you understand how you and the world around you stand as it is today. The theory is based on the belief that if we can understand the past more thoroughly, we will better understand the present, and better prepare for the future as individuals and as communities of the world. To understand how culture influences the way the world works is to study how it has influenced you personally, your altitudes towards other people and your relationship with people that hold views and practices that are different from yours. That helps you to create an environment, experience, and state of mind conducive to the understanding of others, where peaceful coexistence becomes possible leading to personal achievement, health and more happiness among individuals of the human race.

our story

Established in 1994, the Syokimau Cultural Centre was formally registered as a non-profit organization in Kenya (Registration No.C68284) in 1995 to encourage research. In addition to promoting culture, the Centre is mandated to offer technical and capacity building support to cultural organizations and groups. Its project, the Syokimau Cultural Centre and Museum was selected as a UNESCO World Decade for Cultural Development project. Its launch was marked with a promotional historical play, The Woman of Nzaui, a play discussing cultural values of the Akamba and how they affect gender relations in the community. The play was performed to a wide acclaim at the Kenya National Theatre in Nairobi with sponsorship from the Department of Culture and the Kenya Cultural Centre. Since then, the play has been performed in various towns with various guests of honour.

Culturally Speaking

We release regular updates on the Centre's activities and other culturally relevant events, news and reviews through our newsletter, Culturally Speaking. To receive these updates, please provide your details and subscribe.


Our Activities

Our stories, ourselves, our society

If you truly want to know about people, listen to the stories they tell about themselves.

The purpose of storytelling is to empower people by enabling them to gain confidence to share their story, reduce their social isolation and reconnect and rediscover a balanced life. The stories we hear and tell hold powerful sway over our memories, behaviours and even identities. They shape our memories of past events, our understanding of the present, and our projections of future events - and in defining ourselves and our lives.

The story circle is a group of people who share stories about their experience on a given topic or theme. The story circle may be used to build community within a group, to examine difference across lines of ethnicity or race, to explore social challenges that people are facing in their own lives, and to educate. It’s a place where regular people tell stories from their lives.

Purpose of our storytelling programme is to:

  1. To help you understand which stories have affected and still continue to influence your life.
  2. To offer you an opportunity to learn from others by sharing stories.
  3. To offer you an opportunity to establish contact with others with similar interests.
  4. To offer you an opportunity to improve your storytelling skills.

Join us and learn the joy of sharing your story and learning from other participant’s stories.

To participate, let us know using the form below.

Celebrating cultural diversity through poetry.

Miadi events are dedicated to showcasing the beauty and richness of different cultures through the art of poetry. These events are perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about the world's many different cultures and the unique perspectives they bring.

During Miadi events, you'll be treated to a diverse range of performances from poets representing a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and experiences. From spoken word to traditional verse, you'll be amazed by the range of styles and themes on display. Whether you're a seasoned poetry fan or brand new to the art form, there's something for everyone at this event.

In addition to being an enjoyable experience for all attendees, our poetry event has many benefits for participants as well. Poets will have the opportunity to share their work with a diverse and engaged audience, gaining exposure and feedback that can help them grow as artists. They'll also have the chance to connect with other poets from different backgrounds, fostering a sense of community and collaboration that can lead to future creative projects. Overall, our poetry event is a celebration of the power of art to bring people together and promote understanding and appreciation of different cultures.

Cultural Diversity: Practice of myth values theory

Ethnic peace is in Kenya is still elusive despite the widely publicized 2008 ethnic violence. The crisis that followed a contentious election left thousands of people dead and many more maimed and homeless. It was a demonstration of the volatility of interethnic relations in the country. The government has since tried to improve ethnic relations using a variety of methods, including legal and inter-ethnic cultural activities such as games and sports, but there has not been either widespread or lasting success. The latest is the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) promoted by the President and the Opposition Leader, but its success is unlikely violence and abuses and divisions in events to promote it. Desperate Kenyans are urging for new approaches to create lasting peace. The Syokimau Cultural Centre believes that ethnic violence is rooted in ideas that people hold and which are transmitted through folklore. The Myth Values Theory introduces a fresh approach to the search for interethnic peace.

Cultural diversity supports the idea that every person can make a unique and positive contribution to the larger society because of, rather than in spite of, their differences. Diversity, therefore, brings in new ideas and experiences, and people can learn from each other. Bringing in different ideas and perspectives leads to better problem-solving. Working in diverse teams opens dialogue and promotes creativity. The value of diversity is true for all cultures. In schools and other institutions of learning, in workplaces, in social places and even in homes, people from different cultural backgrounds bring their own knowledge and life experiences.

One way to learn about other cultures is to participate in Intercultural training workshops.

Course Rationale: to interact with others without demeaning, invalidating or disempowering their cultural identity.

Recommended for organizations and groups.

To participate, let us know using the form below.

Get Involved

Action is needed now! To help make a difference join Syokimau Cultural Centre today!

Benefits of Joining Syokimau Cultural Centre:

  • Members are entitled to discounts on various Centre activities around the country.
  • Contacts with a large network of scholars and experts ensure that you will keep yourself well informed on news, events, and topics in all aspects of Kenyacultures and thought.
  • Membership will provide discounted rates on Syokimau Cultural Centre publications, including the forthcoming journal and books.
  • Most importantly, your membership money goes to support protection and promotion of Kenyan heritage.

Write to us for more details on membership.


The Myth Values Theory

The traveler remained silent and still. It was not until Julian spoke of his burning, almost obsessive desire to acquire the ancient principles of enlightened living that the man spoke again. Placing an arm on Julian’s shoulder the man said gently, “If you truly have heartfelt desire to learn the wisdom of a better way, then it is my duty to help you...” He paused as if he was a little uncertain of what to do next and then went on, “If you like, you may come with me as guest to our temple. It rests in a hidden part of this mountain region, still many hours from here. My brothers and sisters will welcome you with open arms. We will work together to teach you the ancient principles and strategies that our ancestors have passed down through the ages.

What is the Myth Values Theory about and why should I care?

The Myth Values Theory provides a framework for understanding how individuals and society work. According to the approach, societies are built upon myth values, which provides a basis for social order. At the individual level, Myth Values guide the selection or evaluation of actions, policies, people, and events and attitudes. Attitudes thus develop as a result of evaluative responding (for example, approval or disapproval, favor or disfavor, liking or disliking, approach or avoidance, attraction or aversion) when encountering the attitude object. While values are permanent, attitudes are changeable with favorable experiences. Individuals and societies decide what is good or bad, justified or illegitimate, worth doing or avoiding, based on possible consequences for their Myth Values. These myth values are transmitted to individuals in the societies through culture whose basic components are founding myths (or stories of creation), legends (or stories of ancient heroes), language, folktales, riddles, proverbs and so on. Myth Values provide the society, and individuals within it, with their worldview (or ways of seeing), ways of earning a living (whether it is crop farming, animal husbandry, traders, hunters and gatherers and so on), ways of being (whether forests, deserts, valleys, hunters and gatherers and so on) and social order (ideas of happiness, health, peace or conflict). Myth Values therefore guide how the society and individual members view and evaluate themselves and their action, the relationship of an individual with family and members of the society and vice versa. Myth Values also guide how a group and its members views other groups and their members when they come into contact and the quality and type of dealings with others.

What others say about Myth Values Theory

Your hypothesis connecting myths and folk stories with peace making is (to me) a new and creative insight into the question of peace... I think that your idea has a lot of sense.

Prof. John Mbiti

Prof. John Mbiti

Author of African Religions and Philosophy and Concepts of God in Africa.

Great work! It will help Africa and the rest of the world.

Prof. Alexander H. Amankwah

Prof. Alexander H. Amankwah

Author of The Legal Regime of Land Use in West Africa.

It is a book we must have in all our universities.

Koigi wa Wamwere

Koigi wa Wamwere

Former Assistant Minister for Education, Kenya and author of Negative Ethnicity and Conscience on Trial.

NCIC values the contribution you make towards achieving the commission’s mandate.

NCIC Kenya

National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), Kenya

Kenya government agency intended to address and reduce inter-ethnic conflicts.

Our Bookshop

The Crows will Tell: Ngewa - fables and parables from the Akamba of Kenya
The Crows will Tell: Ngewa – fables and parables from the Akamba of Kenya

Ksh 1500

Fundamental Theories of Ethnic Conflict: Explaining the root causes of ethnic and racial hate
Fundamental Theories of Ethnic Conflict: Explaining the root causes of ethnic and racial hate

Ksh 4000

Lili and her talking goat
Lili and Her Talking Goat

Ksh 300

Kioko and the Legend of the Plains
Kioko and the Legend of the Plains

Ksh 300

Whispers
Whispers

Ksh 400

King Kamaliza - Muli wa Kyendo
King Kamaliza

Ksh 1000

Our Blog

Ibrahim Kendi

Kenyan Politics and Culture: Help from Ibram X. Kendi Glossary of Terms and Reflection Questions

In Kenya’s ongoing election campaigns, hate speech accusations against politicians are prevalent. However, defining hate speech in law proves challenging, as it encompasses various subjective aspects. Generally, hate speech refers to expressions intended to vilify, humiliate, or incite hatred against specific groups based on factors like race, religion, gender identity, and ethnicity. Condemning hate speech alone has limited effectiveness, and a more potent approach involves educating individuals, especially politicians, on the language of hate speech. Ibram X. Kendi’s “Glossary of Terms and Reflection Questions” in the American context has shown promise in addressing this issue.