The government has been urged to integrate cultural studies into the curriculum to ensure that future generations preserve and appreciate Kenya’s diverse cultural heritage.
This call was made during a vibrant cultural festival held at Songhor Soba in Tindiret Sub-County, where community elders, leaders, and residents gathered to celebrate local traditions through dance, music, storytelling, and crafts.
While the event was rich in colourful performances, it also carried a profound message: culture is not merely a remembrance of the past, but a tool to shape the future.
Pillar of Progress
Speaking at the event, Tindiret Member of Parliament Julius Melly emphasised the need for more substantial investment in cultural heritage, calling it a powerful avenue for community empowerment and youth development.
“When we showcase our songs, dances, traditional crafts, and stories, we are telling Kenya and the world who we are. We must give our young people confidence in their roots,” said Melly.
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The MP pledged to support local cultural groups through training initiatives and improved access to funding. However, he stressed that culture must be tied to broader development goals to thrive truly.
“It is not enough to preserve our dances if our roads prevent artists from reaching stages, or our children leave school because there is no bursary,” he noted. “Culture is a thread in the same fabric of progress.”
Cultural Development
Echoing the MP’s sentiments, Nandi County Executive for Culture and Sports, Scholastica Tuwei, outlined a detailed plan to enhance cultural development at the county level.
She announced increased budgetary support for cultural programs, the rollout of training opportunities for youth, and the introduction of inter-county cultural exchange programmes.
Tuwei also underscored the importance of documenting traditional knowledge, warning that valuable cultural practices are at risk of being lost to modern lifestyles.
“Every time a child learns a traditional dance, or an elder recounts an old story, they plant a seed,” she said. “Let us nurture these seeds through our policies, our budgets, and our passion.”
The festival brought together cultural troupes from across Tindiret, showcasing traditional dances, songs, and crafts that drew enthusiastic applause from the crowd.
For many attendees, the event was more than just entertainment—it was a revival of local pride and a call to action for sustained investment in Kenya’s cultural identity.
Community elders urged the Ministry of Education to act swiftly in embedding cultural studies in the school curriculum, noting that such a move would instil respect, identity, and continuity among the youth.
“Our children must know where they come from. Culture teaches discipline, values, and a sense of belonging,” said one elder during the event.
As the sun set over the highlands of Tindiret, the beat of drums and the rhythms of traditional dance served as a potent reminder: culture, when nurtured, can unite communities and shape the destiny of a nation.
By Kimutai Langat
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