Culture: Literature, Art

Literature

Kenyans first published writing to express their emotions during their colonial oppression and independence movement.  Ngugi wa Thiongo, one of Kenya’s most prominent authors, wrote Weep Not Child, which reveals the life-changing experiences that Kikuyu men endured during Kenya’s fight for independence.  His works were “rich in themes of social, political and personal liberation.”[1]  In addition, foreigners that experienced the lifestyle of Kenyans and Kenya’s natural beauty were often so inspired that they wrote literary works.  For example, Karen Blixen, a Danish writer, wrote Out of Africa (under the pseudonym Isak Dinesen), which contained vivid descriptions of Kenya and the wildlife she experienced as she lived on a coffee plantation near Nairobi. 

Art

Soapstone carvings

Most traditional African societies value the decoration of both ritual and functional pieces, and often portray a woman and child, an armed man, a couple, or a supposed “outsider”.  These themes were intended to portray the basics of daily African life.  Different Kenyan tribes embrace varying forms of art, including jewelry and beading (which illustrate social status) and physical decoration and embellishment (this was common among warriors of the Samburu tribe).  Several nomadic tribes embrace the decoration of functional items, such as water containers.  Members of the Kamba tribe are experienced carvers and woodworkers, while the Abigusii and Gusii groups work with soapstone.  After obtaining it by mining from hills that surround a village called Tabaka, the Abigusii and Gusii carve, polish, dye, and then engrave patterns into the soapstone.  Additionally, masks are embraced as an art form because they serve a ceremonial purpose and are intended to honor ancestors.

Jewelry

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[1] “Kenya Arts & Culture.”  Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Office in Geneva.  May 14, 2013.  Permanent Mission of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations Office in Geneva.  < http://www.kenyamission-un.ch/?About_Kenya:Kenya_Arts_%26amp%3B_Culture>.  Accessed May 25, 2013.