44 Tribes of Kenya

Mijikenda Tribes

The Mijikenda are a coastal tribal group made up of nine subtribes The Mijikenda are known for the preservation of their traditi...

Turkana

They are known for their basket weaving and the Turkana women excelled in making beaded ornamentsand necklaces some of which are made from...

Swahili

The Swahili people find significance in their art. They express themselves through creativity as well as through shape and function. This i...

Konso

Konso Cultural Landscape has been recognized by UNESCO as a heritage centre Konso sites feature wooden statues - grouped to repr...

Mijikenda Tribes

The Mijikenda are a coastal tribal group made up of nine subtribes
The Mijikenda are known for the preservation of their traditional religion.Each of the Mijikenda groups has a sacred forest, a kaya, which is a place of prayer. Eleven of the approximately 30 kaya forests have been inscribed together as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Sacred Mijikenda Kaya Forests
Mijikenda people are also known for creating wooden kigango funerary statues which have been displayed in museums around the world and sold in the international art market.The ‘vigango’ and koma are erected after someone's death, to honour them.
The preservation of their culture and beliefs is attributed to how they have incorporated the myth of their origins, as well as a description of their kaya-based, stratified social structure, into a written record of their culture, which is passed on to their children.
Mijikenda dancers perform their exhilarating dances in various events today, attracting both domestic and international tourists in festivals celebrating the coastal cultures

They are known for their basket weaving and the Turkana women excelled in making beaded ornamentsand necklaces some of which are made from elephant's tail.
The Turkana people ae involved in One of Kenya's top tourist attractions is the three-day festival held in June and takes place at Loiyangalani, Marsabit County. This festival features all nomadic communities in Northern Kenya.
The traditional clothing of the Turkana is very simple and consists in a cloth knotted on the shoulder, to form a sort of tunic, for men; while for women the dress is made from two pieces of cloth or leather wrapped around their waist and chest.
The Turkana have also very elaborate hairstyles, in particular women shave the hair on the sides of the head while in the center intertwine them and enrich them with a coat of beads and feathers; while as a fixative for the hairstyle they use animal fat and wood ash mixed together.

The Swahili people find significance in their art. They express themselves through creativity as well as through shape and function. This is seen through Swahili architecture and furniture. Swahili architecture is still evident in the coastal areas in places such as old Town, Gede Ruins, and Lamu. Modern buildings in the Coast have borrowed from this traditional Swahili style
Their Expressive are is also seen in Swahili garments such as the Kanga. This is a rectangle piece of cloth reflecting on the Swahili culture often times containing famous quotes and Swahili Sayings.
The Swahili people are known for their music style known as Taarab. This music style is heavily influenced by Arabic music style as well as some Indian influence. Sample music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNETau_UoFU
Swahili cuisinefavors spicy, flavourful dishes which take inspiration from both African and Middle Eastern cuisine. One of their primary staple ingredients is rice, which you will find in many traditional meals.

Konso Cultural Landscape has been recognized by UNESCO as a heritage centre
Konso sites feature wooden statues - grouped to represent respected members of their communities and particularly heroic events
The Konso follow their indigenous traditional beliefs that is shared with the Oromo