Birth and traditional naming among mijikenda
Welcoming a New Life: Birth and Naming Traditions Among the Mijikenda In the Mijikenda community, the birth of a child is a moment of great joy and celebration. It is not just the parents who rejoice but also the entire family and village. A child is seen as a blessing, and special traditions are followed…
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Jessica Rehema
Mijikenda traditional dance
Dancing with the Ancestors: The Spirit of Mijikenda Traditional Dance For the Mijikenda people of Kenya, dance is more than just movement—it is a language, a story, and a connection to the past. Whether celebrating a wedding, mourning a loved one, or preparing for war, the Mijikenda express their emotions through powerful and graceful dances.…
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Jessica Rehema
The unique art of mijikenda
Vigango The Unique Art of the Mijikenda People The Mijikenda are a group of nine communities living along the southeastern coast of Kenya. These communities are the Kauma, Chonyi, Jibana, Giriama, Kamabe, Ribe, Rabai, Duruma, and Digo. Each group has its own customs, but they share many traditions, especially in art. Mijikenda art is deeply…
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Jessica Rehema
Reintroducing culture
Reintroducing Culture: The Mijikenda Way Culture is the foundation of every community. It defines how people live, dress, eat, and celebrate important events. Over time, many communities have abandoned their traditions in favor of modern ways. However, the Mijikenda people have started to bring back their culture, especially in weddings and dressing, but with a…
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Jessica Rehema
Celebrating Heritage: Kishutu Day in Kilifi County
The Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization’s Kilifi County Chapter is organizing an exciting cultural celebration called Kishutu Day, scheduled for November 28th, 2024, at Chumani Primary School. This vibrant event aims to honor and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the Mijikenda community. Kishutu, a traditional attire worn by Mijikenda women, holds deep cultural significance. This…
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Erick Saddam
Chenda Chenda Cultural Festival 2024
Chenda Chenda Festival: A Celebration of Mijikenda Culture and Unity The coastal region of Kenya is set to come alive on September 9, 2024, as the annual Chenda Chenda Festival takes center stage in Kayafungo, Kaloleni Giriama, Kilifi County. This vibrant celebration of Mijikenda culture and heritage promises to be a day filled with music,…
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Erick Saddam
The Mijikenda Circumcision Tradition
The Mijikenda Circumcision Tradition: A Deep Dive into a Cultural Rite Circumcision among the Mijikenda community has always been a profound and celebratory tradition, reflecting deep cultural values and communal ties. This rite of passage, historically significant and richly ceremonial, highlights the intricate practices that mark a boy’s transition into manhood. A Community Celebration In…
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Erick Saddam
Giriama Names
Giriama Nomenclature Giriama people speak Kigiriama, or Kigiryama, a sub-language of the Mijikenda. Kigiryama like all the nine tribes closely have related languages belonging to the Bantu language that forms part of the more prominent Niger-Congo language family. Giriama are amongst the largest (or the second largest after Digo) of the Mijikenda There is politics…
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Erick Saddam
History of The Giriama people
History of The Giriama people Giriama are part of Mijikenda people whose oral history relates that the ancestors of the Mijikenda, who were then one people, lived in a place called Singwaya, believed to be north of Tana River and south ofJuba River in Somalia. However due to conflicts with other communities there they…
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Erick Saddam
Giriama Traditional Wedding
Kuhaswa – Traditional Giriama wedding The parents of the bridegroom look for the bride. They go to the bride’s home and the bridegroom’s father introduces himself and then says ”Fudzire mala Mudzungu wa utsunguni”. We have come to look for the cucumber, which is painful. The father of the bride answers ”nauhambale” let the painful…
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