Lamu town People and their culture in Kenya

Yes, you may be interested in knowing about Lamu town People and their culture in Kenya. Many visitors in this area are searching for information about history and culture of people in Kenya and on this page, I’m happy to give you the introduction of lamu history and their culture in Africa.

History

Lamu Town on Lamu Island is Kenya's oldest continually inhabited town, and was one of the original Swahili settlements along coastal East Africa.

There are some other accounts that mention Chinese ships of Zheng He's fleet sinking near Lamu Island in Kenya in 1415. Survivors settled on the island and married local women.

This has been proven recently by archaeological work on the island that has resulted in the finding of evidence to suggest this connection.

Further DNA testing done on some residents show that they indeed have Chinese ancestors.

The town was first attested in writing by an Arab traveller Abu-al-Mahasini who met a Judge from Lamu visiting Mecca in 1441.

The town's history was marked by a Portuguese invasion in 1506, and then Omani domination from around 1813 (the year of the Battle of Shela).

The Portuguese invasion was prompted by the nation's successful mission to control trade along the coast of the Indian Ocean.

For considerable time, Portugal had a monopoly on shipping along the East African coast and imposed export taxes on pre-existing local channels of commerce.

In the 1580s, prompted by Turkish raids, Lamu led a rebellion against the Portuguese. In 1652, Oman assisted Lamu to resist Portuguese control.

Lamu's years as an Omani protectorate mark the town's golden age. During this period, Lamu became a center of poetry, politics, arts and crafts as well as the trade.

Lamu is a popular destination for backpackers in search of an 'authentic' experience.

Emergence of the Kenya Nation

• The Great Rift Valley is thought to be one of the places where human beings originated, and archeologists working in the valley have found remains of what they speculate are some of the earliest human ancestors..

Kenya Culture and Food in Daily Life . • Corn (or maize) is the staple food of Kenyans. It is ground into flour and prepared as a porridge called posho, which is sometimes mixed with mashed beans, potatoes, and vegetables, to make a dish called irio.

• Boiled greens, called mboga, are a common side dish. Banana porridge, called matoke, is another common dish.

• Kenya Culture and the Relative Status of Men and Women .

• For the most part, women are treated as second-class citizens in Kenya. Despite the disproportionate amount of work that women do, men usually control the money and property in a family.

• Wife beating is common, and women have little legal recourse. Another women's issue is clitoridectomy, or female genital mutilation, which leaves many women in continual pain and vulnerable to infection.

Kenya Culture on Marriage . Polygamy is traditional, and in the past it was not uncommon for men to have five or six wives.

The practice is becoming less typical today as it has been opposed by Christian missionaries, and is increasingly impractical as few men can afford to support multiple partners.

Kenya Culture on Domestic Unit . In the traditional living arrangement, a man builds a separate hut for each of his wives, where she will live with her children, and a hut for himself. In a family with one wife, the parents often live together with girls and younger boys, while the older boys have smaller houses close by

Kenya Culture on Inheritance . According to the tradition, inheritance passes from father to son. This is still the case today, and there are legal as well as cultural obstacles to women inheriting property.

Kenya Culture on Infant Care . Mothers usually tie their babies to their backs with a cloth sling. Girls begin caring for younger siblings at a very early age, and it is not uncommon to see a five- or six-year-old girl caring for a baby.

Kenya Culture on Child Rearing and Education . Child rearing is communal: responsibility for the children is shared among aunts, uncles, grandparents, and other members of the community. Boys and girls have fairly separate upbringings.

Kenya Culture on Etiquette Kenyans are generally friendly and hospitable. Greetings are an important social interaction, and often include inquiries about health and family members.

Visitors to a home are usually offered food or tea, and it is considered impolite to decline. Elderly people are treated with a great deal of respect and deference.

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