By Betty Luke
Twenty (20) women groups from the Rendille community have moved to preserve their culture which they say is at risk of extinction.
Through the Pastoralist Peoples Initiative (PPI) that champions the rights of pastoralists in Northern Kenya, the women intend to establish a culture centre for preservation of artifacts and documentation of vital aspects of their culture.
PPI Executive Director Margret Super said the group had already acquired 50 acres of land from the elders where they have already started the establishment of a cultural institution and a museum.
The center will be unveiled during a three-day Food and Culture Festival that will be held at Loglogo in Marsabit County in August this year.
“The center will be used as a cultural school, for food exhibition as well as for the normal cultural activities including traditional prayer ceremonies by the elders,” said Ms Super, adding that the establishment of the first-ever Rendille cultural center will help the community reclaim its identity.
“Many people do understand that we (Rendille) are different from the Maasai and the Samburu’s and our cultural practices are different from the two other communities,” she said.
Ms Alice Lesepen, said the move was motivated by a large percentage of young people unable to speak in their local dialect (mother tongue) and prepare traditional delicacies.
“Majority of our children cannot communicate with their grandparents because they haven’t learned their local language. The cultural center will be resourceful to them as there will be people who can help them learn the Rendille language and other basic traditional activities,” Ms Lesepen said.
The festival, that kicks off on August 23 will attract participants from within and outside the Rendille community with the residents expected to showcase their rich culture through among others a range of delicacies and camel derby that will be the climax of the historic event.
There will also be a roundtable discussion on how climate change has impacted pastoralism and rooting of mechanisms that can be adopted by the livestock keepers to enable them to build resilience against climatic shocks.
