Conserving Kaya Forest through culture
For decades, the kaya forest has remained intact, thanks to its strong cultural significance for locals at the coast region.
Saida Swaleh reports on the special place the forest occupies for locals as well as lessons in conservation for the rest of the country.
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The wonder of the Kenyan forest
PLEASE NOTE THIS VIDEO CONTAINS IMAGES OF ANIMAL SACRIFICE
13 July 2008, near Mombasa, Kenya
1. Wide shot of elders performing a prayer ritual.
2. Mid shot of elders.
3. Close up of elders feet.
4. Mid shot of elders sacrificing goat
5. Close up of goat's eye.
6. Mid shot of goat's feet.
7. Close up of knife.
8. Wide shot of Hemedi Mwafujo, the project manager of the Mijikenda Digo tribe Kaya.
9. Mid shot of Hemedi Mwafujo assessing a plant in the forest.
10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hemedi Mwafujo, the project manager of Mijikenda Digo tribe Kaya,
The word 'Kaya' means home or village. So for a place or any forest that is referred to as a kaya forest, people must have lived there.
11. Various shots of the kaya forests.
12. Wide shot of women pounding sorghum (cereal grass)
13. Mid shot of women pounding sorghum
14. Close up of sorghum seeds
15. Tilt down from Mwaka Mtwana to wooden pestle
16. SOUNDBITE: (Rabai - Mijikenda local language) Mwaka Mtwana, elder woman,
The woman's role is preparing food, fetching firewood and water and taking care of the family. Right now, we are pounding sorghum seeds used to make flour so we can prepare a meal that will be offered to the spirits to ask for the well being of the community.
17. Wide shot of Mwaka Mtwana grinding the sorghum seeds.
18. Mid shot of Mwaka Mtwana grinding sorghum seeds.
19. Close up of stone grinders used for grinding sorghum seeds.
20. Pan of mud structures housing the community.
21. Mid shot of resident washing her child.
22. Wide shot of Mombasa town.
23. Mid shot of ship docking at the ferry.
24. Wide shot of oncoming vehicles on the road.
25. Mid shot of vehicles.
26. Mid shot of pedestrians.
27. Wide shot of Mombasa town.
28. Mid shot of train.
29. Wide shot of the oldest tree in Kaya forest estimated at 635 years old.
30. Mid shot of tree branches.
31. Long shot of tree roots.
32. SOUNDBITE: (English) Hemedi Mwafujo, the project manager of Mijikenda Digo tribe Kaya,
This tree is known as Grevia Eggelinga, local name we call it mkota wongo and in those days people used this tree for treating sinus. They would pick the leaves, boil them then one was covered with a piece of cloth and then inhales the steam but if someone was in a hurry, that person would pick the leaves and then crush them like this and them you inhale, just like an inhaler. They have some menthol.
33. Wide shot of a Chinese cycad tree in the Kaya.
34. Mid shot of Chinese cycad tree in the Kaya.
35. Wide shot of elders gathered.
36. Mid shot of elders gathered.
37. Close up of elders bare feet.
38. SOUNDBITE: (English) William Mutta, National Museums of Kenya, Mijikenda Rabai Kaya caretaker,
The main problems which we face in the Kayas are that people are felling trees for carving sculptures and burning charcoal, firewood and also others are fetching trees for building materials.
39. Various shots of elders walking through the kaya forest.
LEAD IN:
The Mijikenda kaya forests were recently added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage List.
The kaya forests show evidence of human habitation dating from the 16th century up to the early 1940s when the settlements were abandoned.
STORYLINE:
In the midst of the forest lie Mijikenda elders perform rituals close to the four century old graves of their dead.
A black goat is slaughtered and offered as a sacrifice to the spirits of the Kaya in a cleansing ritual to keep evil spirits away and provide protection to the community in the area.
Hemedi Mwafujo is the project manager for the Mijikenda Digo tribe. He explains that 'Kaya' means settlement and anything called 'Kaya' means that people once lived there.
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Kenyan lakes on UNESCO list
Lake Baringo, Nakuru and Elementaita have formally been added to the world heritage list by UNESCO'S World Heritage Committee for their outstanding universal value. Other Kenyan heritage sites to previously make the UNESCO list include the Mijikenda Kaya forests, Lamu's old town, Lake Turkana National Park and Mount Kenya National Park.
Watu watatu wa familia moja wauliwa Rabai
Maafisa wa polisi wanawasaka watu wanaotuhumiwa kuwaua watu watatu wa familia moja huko Rabai, kaunti ya Kilifi.
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Mijikenda Elders Push For Formation Of 'Bunge La Wazee'
The Mijikenda Council of Elders wants the government to set up an elders' parliament to help
in formulation of policies in the counties before they are discussed in the national assembly.
The elders from all the 9-sub tribes in the Coastal region said their aim is to have input into
any motions or bills from the national and county assemblies.
They said that the elders parliament which in local dialect is known as ‘Bunge La Wazee‘ shall
work hand in hand with the government to help in shaping the development agenda.
Kaladze vidze documentary
Wilson Karisa Kamango popularly known as Kaladze Vidze is a local traditional/modern Musician from the coastal region of Kenya. His style of fusing Hip hop music and his traditional music from the Giriama tribe has made him a name in the industry.
Produced by: Media Kreative Films
Directed By: Wycliffe Choreh
Narrated By: Kaladze Vidze
Uhifadhi wa msitu wa Kaya
Kwa miaka mingi jamii zinazoishi karibu na misitu ya Kaya zimesifika kwa kuwa mstari wa mbele kwenye utunzaji wa mazingira. Wakiwa hawaelewi ni vipi watu hukata miti bila kupanda mengine katika sehemu nyingine nchini. Katika makala maalum ya Uhifadhi wa Msitu wa Kaya Saida swaleh alikutana na mmoja wa kiongozi wa Kaya anayemfunza mjukuu wake kuhusu umuhimu wa kuhifadhi misitu.
Citizen TV is Kenya's leading television station commanding an audience reach of over 60% and in its over 12 years of existence as a pioneer brand for the Royal Media Services (RMS), it has set footprints across the country leaving no region uncovered.
This is your ideal channel for the latest and breaking news, top stories, politics, business, sports, lifestyle and entertainment from Kenya and around the world.
Follow us: