Work is women’s business
As in many African countries, women bear the brunt of the work. Although the Kenyan government demands that women and men are treated equally and treated equally, in reality things often look very different.
So not only is the work on the farms in the hands of women. They also work the fields, collect wood and carry the water to the village. They harvest and process what has been harvested to cook it and feed the family with it. And they also take care of the children.
Fetching water is traditionally a task for women. Often the water points are very far away from the village, only there is clean water. In this video you can see Diana, 12, going to fetch water.
The Maasai
Although the Maasai population in Kenya is very small, they are the most famous people in the country. We “know” the Maasai from books or from films, in which the lives of these proud people are the focus of interest.
They live as nomads and move with their herds between Kenya and Tanzania – the neighboring country of Kenya in the south – back and forth. Your animals are very important. A family takes care of 30 to 300 animals. The more animals a family has, the richer it is. They live very traditionally and hold on to their beliefs.
Christmas in Kenya
Many people in Kenya are Christians. That’s why Christmas is an important festival in Kenya. However, the celebrations are a little different than ours. It’s a lot louder and, above all, more colorful. To get more information on Kenya and Africa, check proexchangerates.
Everyday Life
Diana from Kenya
Diana is twelve years old and lost her parents to AIDS. Since then she has lived with a neighbor’s family. She has to fetch water from a spring every day. Every morning she has to get up here at six o’clock. Fetching water is the job of the girls and women. She used to fail to get to school on time. The water point has now been improved and access is easier. That’s why Diana can now go to school. She’s getting sick less now too.
Eating in Kenya
Unseasoned corn porridge
A porridge made from corn is arguably the most important food in Kenya. His name is Ugali here. There are also vegetables and sometimes meat. The corn porridge is usually unseasoned, but it is filling well. The corn porridge is white and not yellow, by the way. You can find out how this corn porridge is cooked in our participation tip.
There might be Sukuma Wiki for that. It is a green vegetable that is similar to our cabbage or spinach leaves. The Kenyans cut it up, cook it and serve it as a side dish. There are also tomatoes and onions.
What else is there to eat?
Mandazi and Samosas
Mandazi are also popular. This is something similar to fried donuts. You can always buy something like this on the roadside in Kenya. They are also often eaten for breakfast. In Samosas is filled with vegetables or meat dumplings. They are baked in oil and are often very flavorful.
Chapati
Chapati are also popular. These are similar to our pancakes. These pancakes are originally from India. You can eat them in between meals or as a side dish to main dishes.
Githeri and Nyama Choma
Githeri is a vegetable stew and Nyama Choma is a feast: the Kenyans grill different types of meat such as beef, chicken or lamb. But that doesn’t happen every day.
Fish
Of course, fish also plays an important role on the coast. The Luo who live on Lake Victoria also like to eat fish that they catch in the lake. The food is most varied on the coast, where Arab and Indian influences also prevail. There are also spicy curries here.
Irio and Matoke
The Kikuyu – most of the people in Kenya belong to the Kikuyu people – is the most important meal of the irio. It is a porridge that you make from beans, bananas, corn and potatoes.
Bananas are particularly important as food in western Kenya. Matoke, for example, is a banana pulp.
Rice
Rice also grows in Kenya, especially on Lake Victoria, so rice is also served in this region. For many people there is only a warm meal in the evening.
Beverages
Kenyans like to drink tea and prefer it to be nicely sweetened and with milk. Coffee is also very popular.
Ugali
The Kenyans eat ugali with their hands. To do this, the corn is shaped into small balls and then dipped into the vegetables or sauce. Of course, clean hands are important for this. You can try it out yourself. You can see how Ugali is prepared with our hands-on tips. It is not so hard.
