Schools challenged to help promote Kenya's cultural heritage
Pupils dancing a traditional song. Schools have been challenged to be at the forefront in promoting Kenya's cultural heritage among the youth. PHOTO | SULEIMAN MBATIAH | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Prof George King’oriah said that learning institutions are the best avenues for inculcating African values among the youth.
- He said that besides the national music festivals, there is need for the Ministry of Education to encourage and facilitate cultural events in learning institutions.
- He was speaking at Chief Mbogori Girls High School in Tharaka-Nithi County during the school’s cultural day.
- The day was marked with pomp and colour as students from about five communities showcased their cultures.
Secondary schools have been challenged to promote the diverse Kenyan cultures among students by including cultural events in the school curriculum.
Speaking at Chief Mbogori Girls High School in Tharaka-Nithi County during the school’s cultural day, Prof George King’oriah of the Kenya Methodist University (KeMU) said that learning institutions are the best avenues for inculcating African values among the youth.
The school’s principal Agnes Murithi said that they decided to hold the annual event after they realised the students who come from various communities are ignorant of each other’s culture.
The day was marked with pomp and colour as students from about five communities dressed in their respective traditional attires, showcased their traditional music, rites of passage, ways of worship and traditional delicacies.
“Our school has a national face and we realised the need to bring the girls together to celebrate our rich Kenyan culture.
“Some have not travelled around Kenya and this is an opportunity to learn what happens across the nation. After this event, we remind them that we are all Kenyans,” Mrs Murithi said.
CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS
She noted that many young people do not understand their cultural backgrounds but the school’s cultural event has made the students develop interest in their own cultures.
“We asked the students to go and do research on their communities’ ways of life during the holidays and they have done a very good job. We have discovered that some of them are very good cooks. They have shown a lot of creativity,” she said.
Prof King’oriah said that besides the national music festivals, there is need for the Ministry of Education to encourage and facilitate cultural events in learning institutions.
“This is a great learning experience for our youth who did not experience the raw African culture.
"Making our culture applicable in modern times is very important.
"We all know that the Kenyan society is a beautiful cultural mosaic that must be preserved at all costs,” Prof King'oriah said.
