A Dive into Kenyan Culture Through Children's Music
A Dive into Kenyan Culture Through Children's Music.
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| Kitenge: A fabric worn endowed with many colours and patterns |
A Rainbow of Culture
Kenya is home to over 40 tribes, each boasting a unique rich way of life. These tribes are like big families, and their song and dances tell stories about their land, animals and people. Children often hear songs that teach them about their history, values and tradition. For example, the Kikuyu tribe sing songs about the mountain, Mt. Kenya, and their farms which remind everyone on the importance of nature and hard work.
Music For Learning and Growing
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| Kids are having fun, playing with a jump rope, and learning to count. |
Kenyan children learn so much through music. Songs like “ungienda guthoma” teach the importance of education and the need of having basic education. Others like “Mbura ura” teach gratitude after a good deed has been done to you. A lesson on animals and their behaviour, the seasons in a year, and the history of the community is taught. A song like “Naskia Sauti Ya Mama” teaches time and tells them to go home, saying goodbye to their teacher and fellow students.
A fun counting song might go like this while jumping rope:
Moja, Mbili, Tatu,
Nne, Tano, Sita,
Saba, Nane,Tisa
These are songs that teach the foundation of a community, and that is family. They teach the importance of parents to their children, and elders to their clans. These songs mostly sung by children help them to avoid disrespecting their elderly, helps them form relations with their friends, as these are the partners they will grow together with and do activities with like learning in modern times, and during the old times they would fish, farm, hunt and celebrate occasions with.
Songs During Activities
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| The Maasai |
Song for play and fun
Children in Kenya enjoy playing games that include music. These songs trigger many activities during the game, which becomes very enjoyable to the participants. Some games involve hand-eye coordination, and some involve running and playing tag. An example of a song the leader sings “Nindatee Marua,” and the members respond “Caria!” which translates to “I have lost a letter,” and “Find it!” Another one is “Kanyoni Gakwa Wii Hitha Hithe,” which is sung during hide-and-seek games. These games help in the physical and mental development of children.
Songs About Nature
A song like “Wakaratha” is a song with repetition, and sung by children that not only talks of the natural phenomena but also the effects of it on Human nature and vice versa. Some songs also teach the dangers lurking in places like forests, calm rivers and seas beyond the coral reefs. This helps protect the children while educating them on the nature of their environment.
Songs During Occasions
Songs are sung during occasions and celebrations, not only happy and joyous occasions but also during sad occasions. They sing when a group of children come of age, they sing when a member of the community passes on, they sing when they have a bountiful harvest and when their cattle have survived drought.
Music Brings Us Together
Kenyan culture shows us how music can be a bridge between generations, teaching lessons and creating joy. When children sing and dance, they bring forward the rich tradition of their families and communities.
Music is a magical part of growing up in Kenya! Whether it is clapping to the beat, imitating animals or learning about the rain, there is always something to sing about.
So little ones, which song will you sing today?
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