Highlands, Wanjiru, and Ugali

Hi, everyone!  Here are some interesting facts I found about Kenya; hope you enjoy!

–         
Water!
Water! Water!  (I feel like I keep reading
about water everywhere!)  A few key
environmental issues for the country of Kenya are water pollution from
wastes (urban and industrial) as well as a decreasing level of the quality of
water because of increased use in pesticides and fertilizers. 

–         
The
Kenyan highlands are a geographical gem…they are one of the most successful
agricultural production regions in Africa, even a glacier on Mt. Kenya!

–         
Kenya has 7 provinces and 1 “area”:  Central, Coast, Eastern, North Eastern,
Nyanza, Rift Valley, Western, and Nairobi Area. 

–         
In
2006, a 12-minute movie was produced by Hot Sun Films titled, Kibera Kid.  The cast is composed of many local people and
is entirely shot in Kibera.  Hot Sun
Films and its coordinator, Nathan Collett, created the film to help give the
residents of Kibera an opportunity to “tell their stories to the world”-though
local knowledge, resources and even volunteers in the production of this
low-budget film.   

–         
Traditional
African religions included the concept of a supreme being who is know by various
names.

–         
Syncretic
faiths have arisen in the country as well and often borrow from Christian
traditions and African religious practices. 

–         
There
are numerous independent churches

–         
Kenyan
cooking has been influenced by British, Arab, and Indian influences:  Common food is ugali a mush of maize that is served with spinach and kale. 

–         
Traditionally,
meat is not eaten everyday. 

–         
Kenya‘s premier venue for drama is The Kenya
National Theatre and its affiliated National
Theatre School
(1968).  NTS is home to the professional
training of playwrights and performers of traditional music and dance. 

–         
The
people of Kenya
place great importance on family: 
families are large and often included the extended family with group
responsibilities and traditional values. 

–         
Most
popular sport:  soccer (running, a close
second it seems!);  Common athlete
legends, Kipchoge Keino, Henry Rono, Catherine Ndereba, and now, Sammy Wanjiru. 

 

Ugali, kale, … There are so many different ways of preparing and eating food around the world! 

(This is me pretending to eat the meat directly off a sheep head;  A Navajo Indian woman had prepared it for a group of students from my University.  To the Navajo, a sheep is a prized and coveted dinner entree.)