Art in Kenya

The art of Africa inspired Picasso and a new wave of modern art was born in Europe.  Look at many African carvings and you will immediately recognize the connection. Kenya art is full of magic and many tribes still practice rituals despite the fact that Kenya is firmly in the 21st century as a modernizing nation. African art has always fascinated.

Traditional societies place great significance on decoration of functional and ritual objects, and the body and some tribes raise this to high art. The Maasai use decorative beading and jewelry to emphasize social status. The Samburu place great significance on physical beauty and adornment, especially among warriors, who take great care of their physical appearance, using hair styling and ochre body painting. The Turkana take great care and attention to decoration of the body and objects such as ostrich egg water holders, wrist knives and clubs. Other Northern nomadic tribes such as the Boran, Oromo and Gabbra extensively decorate functional items, including water gourds, stools and neck pillows

Kenya has numerous art galleries and an invaluable artistic wealth and the National Museum of Kenya created an independent trust, called the Kuona Trust, to foster and encourage Kenyan artists.  Much of today’s art and craft production is for the tourist market and includes sisal baskets, Maasai bead jewelry, musical instruments,  silver and gold jewelry, soapstone sculptures, wooden carvings, tribal masks and Maasai figurines, paintings, prints and sculptures, batik cloth, and from the coast Swahili culture, kangas ,women’s wraparound skirts with beautiful patterns, with Swahili proverbs printed on them.

Wood carvings

The Kamba people are considered the best wood carvers. Carving on the coast, however, was centered on the island of Lamu, where the local Bajun tribe influenced Arab craftsmen to create a unique hybrid of styles. Lamu doors with brass decoration, are similar to those of Zanzibar, and have been exported all over the world as collector items.

Masks

Ancestry is very important to the African people to show honor to their ancestors. Masks are designed and decorated with elaborate hair and jewelry to show great wealth and honor to their ancestors. Masks are greatly revered in African culture Many masks are used in ceremonies generally depicting deities, spirits of ancestors, mythological beings, good and or evil spirits, the dead, animal spirits, and other beings believed to have power over humanity.

Swahili cloth and wraps

The Kanga

One of the longer edges features a strip which contains a message in Swahili, This message is called the jina ,literally 'name' of the kanga. Messages are often in the form of riddles or proverbs. Some examples: Wema hauozi — Kindness is never wasted.  Kawia ufike — Better late than never.

The Kikoi