Diversity of Cultural Expressions in Kenya.
Officially Kenya has 42 ethnic communities. Many of these communities hold annual community cultural festivals to celebrate their cultures. These festivals have been part and parcel of Kenyan community celebrations over the years. They are deeply enshrined as part of cultural practice and mark rites of passage and cycles of community traditions and practices. They are vehicles through which cultural traditions and practices are transmitted through performances and exhibitions. They promote intercultural understanding and showcase various communities’ rich and diverse cultural expressions.
They are also platforms for nurturing talents and provide avenues to market cultural expressions. These festivals are major tourist attractions both at local and international levels. The community cultural festivals are deep-rooted and city and urban dwellers have designed unique cultural celebrations in urban settings. For example, many hotels in Nairobi host annual community cultural celebrations themed on particular ethnic groups and these attract large audiences. The celebrations in urban settings are not only avenues for cultural expression but economic ventures for major hotels. These celebrations keep alive the cultural connections of city dwellers with their ethnic cultures.
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Featured Books
Fundamental Theories of Ethnic Conflict: Explaining the root causes of ethnic and racial hate
This book develops and expands on theories that aim at explaining the root causes of ethnic and racial conflicts. The aim is to shift focus from research, policies and strategies based on tackling the effects of ethnic and racial conflicts, which have so far been ineffective as evidenced by the increase in ethnic conflicts, to more fundamental ideas, models and strategies. Contents extend across many disciplines including evolution, biology, religion, communication, mythology and even introspective perspectives.
Drawn from around the world, contributors to the book are respected and experienced award-winning authors, scholars and thinkers with a deep understanding of their special fields of contribution. The book was inspired by the conditions in Kenya, where ethnic violence flared up with terrifying consequences following a disputed election in 2008. Although the conflict was resolved by the intervention of the international community, Kenyans – like many other Africans – continue to live in fear of ethnic conflicts breaking out with more disastrous consequences. The book will be useful to policymakers, NGOs and others involved in promoting peace. It will also be useful in guiding research and as a textbook in universities and colleges.