For this 1st article in our TBEZZE blog…

I thought it might be an interesting exercise to attempt to map or quantify if you will, the cultural diversity that’s spread across Kenya with the help of some online resources that you might be familiar with!

The results are impressive and a key indication of thriving artistic disciplines spread throughout the country.

OVERALL PICTURE

So what does that look like? Well, at the time of writing the creative sector contributes a little over 5% to Kenyan GDP. Employs over 250,000 people and has significant scope for growth. Indeed, as reported on Africa.com the Government is aiming to double the creative sectors contribution to GDP to 10% by the end of 2025. This vision is due in part, to the sector developing 60% faster than other traditional economies.

GALLERIES AND EXHIBITION HALLS

Depending on where you look, you’ll find that Kenya has between 684 to over 700 exhibition halls and galleries displaying everything from sculpture, photography and fine art, through traditional arts and crafts, painting and moving image.

MUsic

During the 1970’s Kenya enjoyed a lofty status as a musical mecca in East Africa, due in large part to Benga. But since then, has struggled somewhat, due to various reasons including a lack of infrastructure and the ever-present piracy issue, that plagues the continent. But Kenya, has an enviable scope of musical expression in part due to the 50 plus languages that are spoken in the country and that lend themselves to an eclectic mix of styles and national and local self-expression. Of these you have 5 prominent styles:

Benga – has close affiliation with the Luo tribe of Western Kenya
Boomba or Kapuka – a type of hip-hop that is sung in Swahili
Mughiti – the Kikuyu tribe get credit, a style of music that features only guitar and vocals
Genge – from Nairobi, this hip-hop genre aims to unite Kenyans
Gengetone - again from Nairobi and heavily influenced by street culture

One final point on music and it’s all about a 1st – The Nairobi festival Blankets & Wine is leaving the shores of Africa behind for the very first time and premiering in Bradford, England. The UK’s City of Culture 2025. Now that’s cause for celebration.

FOOD

We’re going to talk about the number 1 again. There is 1 staple culinary ingredient that is literally everywhere in Kenya and that is Ugali. Maize flour and water are combined to make a dough that’s often eaten with stews. But don’t be fooled by that number 1. The scope of Kenya’s culinary talent is staggering. Food from all 4 corners of the world complement a rich and diverse national and regional palette. You’ll find endless seafood dishes along the coast, goat and Tilapia are favoured towards the west of the country and the interior provides anything else you can think of from the continental cuisines of Europe and the Americas to Oriental food.

*The fantastic* *Chez Sonia* *in Nairobi*

Fashion

Under the umbrella of fashion, I’ll include 3 subsets: clothing, jewelry and baggage. It’s impossible to put a number on this. But whatever it is it’s BIG. There are literally 100’s of fashion artists and designers in Mombasa alone, let alone the entire country. It must run into the 1000’s, if not the 10’s of 1000’s. Traditional fabrics, crafts and techniques all blend to form a rich tapestry of modern attire but always with an acknowledgement of the past.

IN CLOSING

I could site 100 good reasons to visit Kenya, but I’ll leave it with that number again. Here’s 1 additional reason to visit this magical place:

“Yes Kenya’s blessed artistically and culturally, but there’s 1 art form we haven’t even touched on by design. And that’s the magnificence of God’s creation in this corner of East Africa. It’s spectacular to see and a nice little bonus when paired with everything else discussed here today…”

— Me, Gaz

See you next month – peace & love x

#1 - KENYA. her IDENTITY AND CULTURE IN NUMBERS