KENYA SOUNDS OF AFRICA

Sounds of Africa is a traditional folklore dance and music troupe that is based out of Nairobi, Kenya. They specialize in Kenyans culturally diverse ethnic traditional dances. Sounds of Africa was organized in 2002 to preserve Kenyan dance and culture. They have been voted #1 at the Kenyan Music & Dance Festival for the last 4 years. The main aim of the troupe is to exhibit the richness of Kenyan traditions and cultures to not only the Kenyan people but to the whole world. Kenyan dances, music and songs embobies the entire African culture and is a source of pride and a cherished treasure to all Kenyans, no matter where they may be. Their dance and songs celebrate courtship and marriage, lullabies and birth, circumcision and manhood, war, death and funerals, songs song while working, songs while watering the animals, prayer songs, and dances for different seasons and occasions.

Sengenya dance
http://soundsofafrica.kbo.co.ke/_item?item_id=008001

Chakacha dance
http://soundsofafrica.kbo.co.ke/_item?item_id=000004

Orutu dance
http://soundsofafrica.kbo.co.ke/_item?item_id=003007

Various dances: Miti dance (warrior dance): performed by warriors in preparation to go into battle field. Danced by men only Dowe (thanks giving dance): performed to give thanks after a good harvest. Danced by both men and women and accompanied by singing Sengenya (wedding dance): it was created in the 18th century to mark the 1st wedding between Africans and Arabs. It is performed by both men and women at weddings and other occasions and is accompanied by singing. Chakacha (entertainment dance): was originally used to by the older women in the Digo tribe to teach young girls how to entertain their husbands. It is now used to entertain young ladies.

Orutu (celebration dance): performed by both men and women to welcome a new baby into the community Irua (circumcision dance): performed by old men and women during the circumcision season when young boys are being initiated into manhood. Chuka dance: created in 1948 after WWII to mark the events which took place in the war. They mime soldiers, sound of gun shots, etc. it is performed by men only

Left: Djembe drum, Center: lead drums, Right: Nyatiti

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=chivoti+instrument&num=10&hl=en&biw=1366&bi h=539&tbm=isch&tbnid=uzQbp2GVGIjYjM:&imgrefurl=http://gathua.wordpress.com/t ag/potrait/&docid=GMvJvpcS22CcBM&imgurl=http://gathua.files.wordpress.com/2011 /06/002flute.jpg&w=5184&h=3168&ei=ql0TUMCkLIajrQGDlYG4DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vp x=339&vpy=170&dur=9151&hovh=175&hovw=287&tx=150&ty=102&sig=10067586 4808609539687&page=1&tbnh=160&tbnw=237&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0 ,i:78

A member playing the Orutu

Songs and dances may be accompanied by some of the following traditional instruments. Drums o Mabumbumbu: set of 3 bass drums from the Giriama community in the coastal province These drums are also used for healing purposes to drive out evil spirits o Marimba: African xylophone used by various communities o Djembe: used in all areas of Africa o Bunde: set of 6-8 lead drums made out of tin and cow hide and used by the Luo community Percussions o Kayamba: shaker made from dry grass and seeds Used along with the mabumbumbu drums to drive out evil spirits o Cow bells o Jingles: shakers attached to legs to make noise when leg stomped o Marakass Wind Instruments o Chivoti: flute made from bamboo o Zumari: trumpet made from wood String Instruments o Ishiriri: one stringed instrument from the Luhya community o Nyatiti: eight stringed instrument rom the Luo community o Orutu: one stinged instrument from the Luo community A sample of traditional instrumental music can be found at these websites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rlfZ68GTAs&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL42 538DD45BFB047F (How to play African drums: 6 sounds of a Djembe drum)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVjbh5AcMhA&feature=related (Ben Baddoo playing the Nyatiti)

They can be contacted at:

Sounds of Africa P.O. Box 27979 - 00100 Nairobi, Kenya Tel: 00254 722 315430 Email: soundsofafrica@gmail.com sounds.africa@yahoo.com Skype: sounds.of.africa For further information or to view pictures and videos of their performances, visit:
http://soundsofafrica.kbo.co.ke/home (Sounds of Africa webpage) http://soundsofafrica.jigsy.com (Sounds of Africa webpage) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Eerjd3xLY (Miti dance by Sounds of Africa) http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=iSiHD-Mpn60 (Chakacha dance by Sounds of Africa) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7yNKU9aFdg&feature=relmfu (Dodo dance by Sounds of Africa)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Literature

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2962.htm

http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2962.htm

Kenya, the Country The official name of Kenya is the Republic of Kenya; named after Mount Kenya, Kenyas second highest mountain. It is slightly smaller than Texas in size. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean on the Southeast, Tanzania on the Southwest, Uganda on the West, South Sudan on the Northwest tip, Ethiopia on the North and Somalia on the East. Its capital is Nairobi. Kenya was under British rule from the mid 1800s until Kenya became an independent country on December 12, 1963 after the Mau Mau uprising which left tens of thousands of Kikuyu dead while the British only lost 650. Kenya is famous for its tourism. Safaris and visits to see the native wildlife reserves such as the Tsavo and Nakuru National Parks and the Maasai Mara dominate Kenyan economy. The coastal beaches also draw tourists. The estimated population of Kenya for 2012 is 43,013,341. The major tribes can be broken down to: Kikuyu (22%), Luhya (14%), Luo (13%), Kalenjin (12%), Kamba (11%), Kisii (6%), Meru (6%), other

African (15%), non-African (Asian, European and Arab 1%). Kenyans typically speak in their mother tongues but the official languages are English and Swahili. Kenyans are mainly Christian (83%), with Muslim (11.2%) and traditional African religions or others (5%). The Kikuyu tribes live on the foothills of Mount Kenya and are traditionally farmers. The Maasai tribe is found in the Southern parts of Kenya. They are nomadic herdsman and when the season is dry, will live on a diet of cows blood mixed in milk. The Samburu tribe lives on the borders of the northern desert and the foothills of Mount Kenya. They are pastoralists in that they live on their cows, goats, sheep and camels.

Kikuyu woman in traditional attire.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Literature

Maasai in traditional dress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Literature

Samburu woman and child

http://www.africaguide.com/images/library/people/pf019.jpg

Traditional Folklore Stories: Kikuyu Creation Myth, collected by Rose Mwangi

"In the beginning Ngai, who is the God and the divider or the universe, called Gikuyu the father of the tribe. Ngai gave Gikuyu a share of his land with rivers, valleys, forests rich with fruits and animals of all types. Then Ngai went to stay on Kirinyaga. Now Ngai used to go round inspecting and admiring the beautiful earth. 'One day He took Gikuyu on top of Kirinyaga. It was on the highest point of the mountain. He showed Gikuyu a spot in the centre of the country where there were many mugumo (wild fig) trees. Gikuyu saw that the land was very beautiful. And Ngai said to Gikuyu, 'Go. Build your homestead on that spot with mugumo trees,' and he called the selected place where the mugumo trees grew Mukurwe wa Gathanga. Then Ngai said: 'You will at times be in need of my help, when the time arises, slaughter a goat for sacrifice, then raise your hands towards Kirinyaga and Ngai or Kirinyaga and Gikuyu will come to your help.' Gikuyu went to the chosen spot. Here he found a beautiful woman whom he took to wife. He named her Mumbi (Moulder or Creator). They had nine daughters - they did not have any sons. Now Gikuyu went to Ngai and said that he wanted sons to marry his daughters. Ngai said: "Go, take a lamb and a kid. Kill these under the big mugumo tree near the homestead and the blood

and the fat pour them on the trunk of the tree. Let the family make a big fire under the tree. The meat will burn as a sacrifice to Ngai or Gikuyu. When you take your wife and daughters home, go back alone to the mugumo tree. There you will find nine very handsome men who are willing to marry your daughters. Then your people will increase and multiply and fill all the land." Maasai Creation Myth The Maasai believe in one God, whom they call Ngai. Ngai is neither male nor female, but seems to have several different aspects. For instance, there is the saying Naamoni aiyai, which means "The She to whom I pray". There are two main manifestations of Ngai: Ngai Narok which is good and benevolent and is black; and Ngai Na-nyokie, which is angry and red, like the British. For a story which has them as separate gods, see Thunder and the Gods. Evening in Maasai Mara after a stormNgai is the creator of everything. In the beginning, Ngai (which also means sky) was one with the earth, and owned all the cattle that lived on it. But one day the earth and sky separated, so that Ngai was no longer among men. The cattle, though, needed the material sustenance of grass from the earth, so to prevent them dying Ngai sent down the cattle to the Maasai by means of the aerial roots of the sacred wild fig tree, and told them to look after them. This they do to this day, quite literally taking the story as an excuse to relieve neighbouring tribes of their own livestock. Any pursuit other than a pastoral one was considered insulting to Ngai and demeaning to them. No Maasai was willing to break the ground, even to bury the dead within it, for soil was sacred on account of its producing grass which fed the cattle which belonged to God... Equally, grass has acquired a semi-sacred aura, and is held in the fist as a sign of peace, and similarly held is used for blessings during rituals, a sheaf of grass being shaken at the people or animals being blessed. No surprise, then, to find that cattle play an important role in ritual occasions, such as initiation, marriage, and the passage of one age-set to the next, where their sacrifice bridges the gap between man and God. Yet for all the deep significance cattle embody for the Maasai, a stupid person will still be referred to as a cow or a sheep!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thiery44/4862224959/sizes/m/in/photostream/ The Origin of Cattle (Maasai)

In the beginning, the Maasai did not have any cattle. One day God called Maasinta, who was the first Maasai and said to him: "I want you to make a large enclosure, and when you have done so, come back and inform me." Maasinta went and did as he was instructed, and came back to report

what he had done. Next God said to him: "Tomorrow, very early in the morning, I want you to go and stand against the outside wall of the house for I will give you something called cattle. But when you see or hear anything do not be surprised. Keep very silent." Very early in the morning, Maasinta went to wait for what was to be given him. He soon heard the sound of thunder and God released a long leather thong from heaven to earth. Cattle descended down this thong into the enclosure. The surface of the earth shook so vigorously that his house almost fell over. Maasinta was gripped with fear, but did not make any move or sound. While the cattle were still descending, the Dorobo, who was a house-mate of Maasinta, woke up from his sleep. He went outside and on seeing the countless cattle coming down the strap, he was so surprised that he said: "Ayieyieyie!", an exclamation of utter shock. On hearing this, God took back the thong and the cattle stopped descending. God then said to Maasinta, thinking he was the one who had spoken: "Is it that these cattle are enough for you? I will never again do this to you, so you had better love these cattle in the same way I love you." That is why the Maasai love cattle very much. How about the Dorobo? Maasinta was very upset with him for having cut God's thong. He cursed him thus: "Dorobo, are you the one who cut God's thong? May you remain as poor as you have always been. You and your offspring will for ever remain my servants. Let it be that you will live off animals in the wild. May the milk of my cattle be poison if you ever taste it." This is why up to this day the Dorobo still live in the forest and they are never given milk.

http://images.google.com/imgres?q=zebra&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=705&tbs=sur:fmc&tbm=isch&tbnid=UYg-qhWTEjdphM:&imgrefurl=http://www.public-domain-image.com/fauna-animalspublic-domain-images-pictures/grant-african-zebra.jpg.html&docid=YxYsoIaYqGVgSM&imgurl=http://www.public-domain-image.com/cache/fauna-animals-public-domain-imagespictures/grant-african-zebra_w725_h484.jpg&w=725&h=484&ei=cT4ZUN-FFKXriwKqYHIDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=552&vpy=372&dur=2047&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=142&ty=102&sig=110324376404036271765&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=183&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t: 429,r:8,s:0,i:176

Why Zebras have Striped Skins (Luhya)

Long ago before people started taming any other animal apart from the dog, it was said that donkeys could also be tamed. This rumour was told by one man who went to the bush to hunt. After killing the animal he had hunted he found that it was very heavy for him to carry alone. So he decided to find a way by which he could carry his prey. And as he was thinking, he saw a donkey pass nearby in the bush. All of a sudden an idea came into his head. He thought that if he took his prey and put it on the back of the donkey, it would help him carry his load. So he went after the donkey. He put the load on its back easily, for it did not attack him or run away. He led the way until they reached his compound. After unloading the donkey he gave it food and it ate with appreciation. From this time on, this man kept the donkey.

This story went round that somebody had tamed a donkey. Soon the donkey was famous for its hard work throughout the village and the surrounding area. People wanted to satisfy their curiosity, and they soon set out to hunt for donkeys and use them to carry heavy loads. Donkeys did not know what was going on up to this time. They came to understand only after most of their friends had been taken away. They started to hide deep in the bushes. But all was in vain! People had realised that donkeys were very useful animals. So they made special efforts to hunt them down, wherever donkeys could be found. This problem really worried the donkeys. Many of their kind had been captured. The rumours they heard were horrifying. Rumour had it that those donkeys which had been captured were working too much and they were given only food enough to keep them going. This was indeed frightening. The rest of the donkeys decided to act quickly, lest they become victims of circumstance like their unfortunate friends. They therefore held an impromptu meeting. Here they discussed what should be done about the whole problem. One donkey suggested that they should seek help from Hare since he was known to be cunning and clever. All agreed that Hare should be asked for advice. The next morning the donkey representative went to see Hare, who was only too willing to help. Hare asked him to tell all his friends to come to his compound early the next morning. This they did, and when they arrived they found Hare with whitewash in a huge can, ready to act. As the donkeys were not fast enough in thinking, they wondered how whitewash could have anything to do with their problem. Hare tried to explain but they seemed rather stubborn. Nobody was willing to be the first one to be experimented on. Finally, one donkey volunteered and stepped forward. Immediately, Hare set to work. He started painting stripes of whitewash on the donkey's skin. Soon the donkey had black-and-white stripes instead of being plain black or grey. As the first donkey was painted over, the other donkeys admired him. They all started wishing they could look like their friend. The moment that followed was full of struggle and scrambling over who should reach the paint first. The warning from Hare that they should be careful went unheeded. Hence, the struggling and fighting continued. It happened that after a number of donkeys had been painted, one donkey pushed to the front with such force that he stepped in the bucket that contained the whitewash. The whole bucket overturned pouring out all the paint. This was the end of everything. The remaining donkeys were helpless because they were the unfortunate ones. Hare told them that he could not help them any more because the fault had been theirs. And so, although the aggressive donkey was cursed for this bad act, nothing was done for their betterment, for the spilt paint could not be recovered. Hence, those donkeys that had been painted were safe from people's reach. They were the lucky ones and changed their name from donkeys to zebras. This name set them apart from the unfortunate donkeys who after this were all captured by men, and taken away to work for them. They were less fortunate and that is why they continue to be known as donkeys.

Three Wives There was once a man who had three wives. It happened that they were all about to bear him children, and they asked him for permission to return to their homes. He agreed to this, and on the appointed day set out with them to lead them on their way. Presently, they came to a place where the road branched in three directions. The man turned to his women, and said: Here I will leave you, as here it is that you will each take your different roads. As he said this, he fell dead. Then the women began to make a great ado. The first woman said that she would not leave her husband like that, but would follow him, and then she went and hanged herself. The second woman said she could not leave her husbands body for the vultures and hyenas to devour, and she sat down by the corpse and kept everything away from it. The third ran into the bush bewailing her mans death, and there she saw a man who asked her what was the matter. When he heard, he said that he would help, and went back with the woman to the crossroads. There he took his magic cows tail, and tapping the dead woman and man, raised them both from the dead and gave them back their life. Now which of those women is best? The Trapper Trapped Goat and Fox were quarreling and Goat told Fox that he intended to get him into trouble so bad he would never be able to get out. Fox said, All right; you do that, and I will return the favor to you. Goat went for a walk and saw Leopard; being frightened, he asked, Auntie, what you are doing here? My little one is sick, said Leopard. Then Goat, thinking quietly, said, Fox has medicine that will make your little one well. Leopard said to call him, so Goat went to Fox and said, They are calling you. Who is calling me? replied Fox. I dont know, said Goat; I think it is your friend. Go this way and you will run into him. Fox went down the path and at length came upon Leopard. Fox was frightened, and inquired: Did you call me? Yes, my son; your brother is sick. Goat came just a while ago and told my you had medicine that would make my little one well. Yes, said Fox, I have medicine that will cure your little one, but I must have a little goat horn to put it in. If you get me a goat horn I will let you have the medicine. Which way did Goat go? asked Leopard. I left him up there, replied Fox. You wait here with my little one, and I will bring you the horn, said Leopard, and away she ran. Soon after, Leopard killed Goat and returned with his horns to Fox. Beware, lest you fall into the trap you set for someone else.

Bibliography Abrahams, Roger D. African Folktales. New York: Pantheon Books, 1983. 129-130, 203. Print. Blackwelder, Joshua, comp. Kenya. Bountiful: Bountiful/Davis Arts Center, 2012. Print. "Kenya." The African Guide. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Jul 2012. <http://www.africaguide.com/country/kenya/culture.htm/music.htm>. Mbugua, David K. "Sounds of Africa Dance Troupe." Message to Kirsten Jensen. 6/21/2012 7/11/12. E-mail. Mwangi, Rose. "The Kikuyu Creation Myth." Kikuyu - Fables and Legends. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Jul 2012. <http://www.bluegecko.org/kenya/tribes/kikuyu/stories-creation.htm> Njoki, Pastor. "What is the creation myth of the masai tribe in Kenya?." 2008. N.p., Online Posting to Yahoo! Answers. Web. 31 Jul. 2012. <http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080904171136AAWzrsm>. Sounds of Africa: Kenyan Music and Dance. Sounds of Africa, n.d. Web. 3 Jul 2012. <http://soundsofafrica.jigsy.com>. Sounds of Africa. Sounds of Africa, n.d. Web. 3 Jul 2012. <http://soundsofafrica.kbo.co.ke/home>. Tyman, John. "Kenyan Folktales." n.pag. Cultures in Context Series: Kenyan Folktales. Web. 3 Jul 2012. <www.johntyman.com/africa/folk>. United States. U.S. Department of State. Background Note: Kenya. Web. <http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2962.htm>. Wikipedia contributors. "Kenya." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Web. 3 Jul 2012. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya

Pictures
http://www.africaguide.com/images/library/people/pf019.jpg (picture of Samburu woman and child) http://www.google.com/imgres?q=chivoti+instrument&num=10&hl=en&biw=1366&bih=539&tbm=isch &tbnid=uzQbp2GVGIjYjM:&imgrefurl=http://gathua.wordpress.com/tag/potrait/&docid=GMvJvpcS22Cc BM&imgurl=http://gathua.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/002flute.jpg&w=5184&h=3168&ei=ql0TUMCkLIajrQGDlYG4DQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=339&vpy=170&dur= 9151&hovh=175&hovw=287&tx=150&ty=102&sig=100675864808609539687&page=1&tbnh=160&tbn w=237&start=0&ndsp=11&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0,i:78 (picture of Chivoti flute) http://soundsofafrica.kbo.co.ke/_item?item_id=008001 (picture of Sengenya dance)

http://soundsofafrica.kbo.co.ke/_item?item_id=000004 (picture of Chakacha dance) http://soundsofafrica.kbo.co.ke/_item?item_id=003007 (picture of Orutu dance) http://www.flickr.com/photos/thiery44/4862224959/sizes/m/in/photostream/ (Maasai w/ cows)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenya#Literature (world map & Maasai & Kikuyu woman in traditional attire) http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2962.htm (Kenyan flag and Map of Kenya with major cities)
http://images.google.com/imgres?q=zebra&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=705&tbs=sur:fmc&tbm=isch&tbnid= UYg-qhWTEjdphM:&imgrefurl=http://www.public-domain-image.com/fauna-animals-public-domainimages-pictures/grant-african-zebra.jpg.html&docid=YxYsoIaYqGVgSM&imgurl=http://www.publicdomain-image.com/cache/fauna-animals-public-domain-images-pictures/grant-africanzebra_w725_h484.jpg&w=725&h=484&ei=cT4ZUN-FFKXriwKqYHIDw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=552&vpy=372&dur=2047&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=142&ty=102&sig= 110324376404036271765&page=1&tbnh=141&tbnw=183&start=0&ndsp=15&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0,i:176

(Zebras)
Left: Djembe drum, Center: lead drums, Right: Nyatiti (received via e-mail from David Mbugua on 6/27/2012) A member playing the Orutu (received via e-mail from David Mbugua on 6/27/2012) Dancers, male and female (received via e-mail from David Mbugua on 6/25/2012) Female dancers (received via e-mail from David Mbugua on 6/25/2012)