Textbooks 2 Kenya

Culture Today

2009-02-28T07:44:00.000-08:00

There are about 32 million people living in kenya at this time, and a numerous amount of tribes still surviving in their tropical climate. Kenya is very hot because the equator runs derictly through it. Kenya is the size of Nevada in the United States of America. English and Swahili are the languages taught throughout the country, but there are many other tribal languages. These include Kikuyu, Luhia, Luo and Kikamba as well as many other minor tribal tongues.

Kenyans love to party, and the music style known as benga is the contemporary dance music that rules. It originated among the Luo people of western Kenya and became popular in the area in the 1950s.Now in the late 1900, early 2000 Kenya's hip hop scene has really taken off. Only a few years ago, it was unthinkable for a Kenyan to earn any money, let alone earn a living from the trade. Well brace yourself, Kenya’s hip hop scene is among the most vibrant in Africa....and with a rapid rise in its popularity, both in Kenya and worldwide, this hip hop scene will only get better.

Traditionally, Kenya music centered on drumming and dance, often accompanied by humming, chatting and singing. Apart from the drums, other musical instruments include variations on flute, lyres and guitars, which may be seen in the National Museums of Kenya among their ethnic exhibits. Since then, Kenya music has evolved through early Afro-jazz to African hip-hop, rap and dance music. Recent years have seen an increase in FM radio stations throughout urban Kenya, and now Kenyan artists are at the forefront of the Kenyan music scene.

Kenyan cuisine generally consists of stodge filler with beans or a meat sauce. It's really just survival fodder for the locals maximum filling-up potential at minimum cost. If you had to name a national dish in Kenya, nyama choma (barbecued meat, usually goat), would probably be it. Kenyan food is not exactly designed for gourmet or vegetarians. Beer drinkers, on the other hand, are well supplied. Kenyans love their beer almost as much as their dancing and there's a thriving local brewing industry, and the Tusker beer is excellent. Kenya coffees are internationally renowned, and a major export. Local white wines from Naivasha are good. Local produce includes delicious mango and pawpaw, often served at breakfast. The Kenya coast has coral formations protected by law. Fishing for sport is highly popular, as is diving for pearls and lobster, sailing, and how voyages by moonlight.

Kenya clothing is varied as there are a number of tribes in Kenya. Each of the tribes of Kenya has their own dress and clothing culture that make them different and distinctive from each other. As such there is not a single dress that can be called to the identifying dress for the people of Kenya. Of late there has been an effort to make a national dress for the people of Kenya. But this dress has not become widely popular with general people. However, on a large scale, Kenya can boast of its varied way of dress and clothing done in several tribal communities2778 railroads km

Kenya's History

2009-02-28T07:43:00.000-08:00

Colonial History

On December 12, 1963 Kenya became an independent country by the United Kingdom. Kenya was colonized by the British, which left many marks on the language, culture, and legal systems. The Massi are the dominant tribe of the country known as Kenya, Africa. They arrived as nomadic pastoralists from the north, probably in the mid 18th century.

Flag of Kenya

The flag of Kenya consists of four colors. Those four colors are red, black, green, and white. The flag of Kenya was adopted on December 12, 1963. The black, red, and green colors signify black majority, freedom struggle bloodshed, and natural resources respectively while the shield is the symbol of protector for all these. The " shield" in the middle of the flag is a Massai warrior shield with two spears.

Kenya's Independence

Kenya has been an independent country since 1963. Kenya's republic was declared a year later.

Kenya independence is a term that evokes within the Africans in this country a remembrance of a long history of Kenya under the colonial rule of England. Achieved in 1963, independence is a gift that the Africans bought themselves through sheer patience and courage.

The story of Kenyan Independence tells the story of Kenya's long and hard struggle for political and social freedom from the clutches of the Britain's. Kenya officially came under English reign in 1920. The Africans had reacted without delay. They put in their full effort in regaining what the English had wrongfully taken away—the rights of the African nationals in Kenya.

The Kikuyu organization ( 1921), headed by Jomo Kenyatta was the first attempt. In 1925 it was suppressed by the English but the members regrouped again as the Kikuyu association. Kenyatta's campaigns against the English to attain the rights of the Kenyans acted as an impetus in Kenya Independence struggle. He resorted to peaceful methods but threatened of an explosion if the English did not give them their rights. But no progress was seen till after the World War 2.

In spite of political movements and a united national uprising against the English, the English refused to move out of the territory. They were determined to hold their power over Kenya and this sparked off a violent reaction during the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s. A huge number of Africans lost their lives and thousands were wounded. Suppression of the Kikuyu organization by the English followed. The Kenyan independence struggle reached its climax with the imprisonment of the African political leaders. Political chaos continued till 1960 when Kenya was recognized by English regime. In 1961 Africans were granted a majority rule in the parliament and ultimately in 1963 Kenya's fight for independence culminated with the country attaining complete independence from British domination. Thus Kenya's independence is a picture of the victory of the persistence of the Africans over England's desire for global power. A year after they got their independence, Jomo Kenyatta became the first president on the establishment of a republic.

Leaders

Jomo Kenyatta

Jomo Kenyatta, born on October 20, 1894, and leader of the 1921 Kikuyu organization, helped Kenya to gain its independence. He was a member of the Kanu political party, and became Kenya's prime minister in office from June 1st,1963, to December 12, 1964. He died on August 22,1978, at the age of 83.

Daniel Arap Moi

Daniel Arap Moi was born in Kuriengwo village and raised by his mother, Kimio Chebii, following the death of his father. After completing secondary education, he attended Tambach Teachers Training College in Keiyo District. He worked as a teacher from 1946 until 1955. In 1955 he entered politics when he was elected member of the the Legislative Council for Rift Valley. In 1960 he founded the Kenya African National Union (KANU) led by Jomo Kenyatta.

Calestous Juma

Calestous Juma (born on June 9Th, 1953 in Port Victoria, western Kenya) is an internationally recognized authority in the application of science and technology to sustainable development worldwide. Calestous Juma grew up on the shore of Lake Victoria where he started a young education. He is a professor of the Project of the International Development and Director of the Science, Technology and Globalization Project.

He is a former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity and Founding Director of the African Centre for Technology Studies in Nairobi, and he also served as Chancellor of the University of Guyana. He has been elected to several scientific academies including the Royal Society of London, the US National Academy of Sciences and the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World. He has won several international awards for his work on sustainable development.

He holds a PhD in science and technology policy studies and has written widely on science, technology, and environment. He teaches courses in developmental policy as part of theMPA/ID Program. He is lead author of Innovation: Applying Knowledge in Development. He is editor of the International Journal of Technology and Globalisation and International Journal of Biotechnology.

Dr.Wangari Maathai

Dr.Wangari Muta Maathai ( born April 1st 1940 ) in Ihithe village, is an enviormental and political activist. In 2004 she became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize for " her contribution to sustainable development, democracy,and peace.'' Maathi was an elected member of Parliament and served Assistant Minister for Enviornment and Natural Resources in the government of President Mway Kabaki between January 2003 and November 2005.

Our Movie

2009-01-06T08:11:00.000-08:00

We are interviewing Mr. Wagner ; the man behind the whole project.

ABOUT US

2008-12-20T07:42:00.000-08:00

HELLO!!! We are the SSPJ students of Sts. Philip and James school located in St. James, N.Y.
We are helping Kenya’s education by sending text books to Kenya. We are trying to make their education better than it was because they don’t have the money to buy better books. In our computer class we are making a website to help to inform others. Our school is donating all of our unwanted text books to Kenya. The children learn with pen and paper and we would like to send books to them for a better education instead of wastefully throwing these textbooks out. We would really like it if you guys would help by sending books to our school.
Our whole class started to get involved with VIST, when our teacher Mr. Wagner talked to a college professor who knew a lot about the school. Our fifth grade class is making this blog in our computer class. Each group has an assignment. We are all writing about Kenya's culture, education, history, and about us.

Please help us donate as many books as we can. If you would like to help, then donate some books to us. We would mostly like math and science books. Please do not send History becase Kenya is a different country. Remember that they are a poor country, so please help us out. We will give all the books we can with one thousand dollars. Our teacher is helping us 5th graders to learn how wealthy our country is and how some country’s are not as fortunate as we are. If you have time to donate to us we can't thank you enough. Lets make the world a better place one step at a time!!! Thank you and have a very good day and we hope the kenyans do too.

Get a Voki now!

Merry Christmas V.I.S.T. !!!

2008-12-19T07:46:00.000-08:00

Dear V.I.S.T. ,
As you probably know, Chirstmas is coming, and our fifth grade class hopes you have a wonderful Christmas! We hope you have put the textbooks we gave you to good use. They will hopefully make learning easier for you. We wish that you have food to eat and clean water to drink on this wonderful holiday! We also wish that you are safe during Christmas.

-Your Wikenya Family

Kenya's Radio

2008-12-16T08:28:00.001-08:00

http://english.cri.cn/webcast/

Kenya's Pictures

2008-12-16T08:05:00.001-08:00

Hi. I am Jameson and I am the captain of the picture group with Emmet, Lauren and Kaitlin. We are finding pictures of kenya's landforms, clothes, important people, and more.

Mwai Kabiki is the president of Kenya

This is a person from a tribe called the Kikuyu.

This is Kenya's capital city, Nairobi.

The elephant is the national animal of Kenya.

The giraffe is also a popular animal in Kenya.

This is the massiai lion. It is a very big part of the massiai's.

This is leopard beach. It is a big tourist attraction.

This is dhows-lamu-kenya. It is also a good tourist attraction.

Podcasts

2008-11-04T08:14:00.000-08:00

Hello, my name is Meaghan. I am in the podcast group with Cailey, Carly, and Abigail. We are going to be podcasting every week. In our podcasts, we will be informing you about what the different groups are and what they are doing. We will also be interviewing our homeroom teacher, Mr. Wagner and our computer teacher, Mr. Haines.

Our class is delighted to send textbooks to Kenya to help them with their low literacy rate. Please contribute. (check out our fundraisers at Wikenya.Jottit.com)

- Your Wikenya Family
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kenya#4
.mp3 kenya#5.mp3

Kenya's Education

2008-10-28T07:55:00.000-07:00

Introduction

Hi! This is Natalie, Taylor, and Isabella. For some you who don't know about Kenya's education, we will tell you about it. Kenya's education is not the greatest. Not everyone in Kenya goes to school, and not everyone who does has a good education.

Statistics

The CIA World Factbook claims that the children at the age of 15 years old, a total of 85.1%, can read, and write. Males are at a slightly higher rate than females. This estimate was taken in the year 2003.

Education is free, and compulsory for eight years. Children begin to attend school when they are five or six years old. They spend eight years at primary school, four years at secondary school, and four years at the university. In 1995, there were 5,544,998 primary students and 181,975 teachers. The student-teacher ratio is 30 to 1. In most secondary schools, there are 632,388 and 41,484 teachers.

Literacy rates

There are four main universities in Kenya. One is theKenyatta University that was founded in 1972. It is located in Nairobi. The University of Nairobi was founded in 1956. It was founded as the Royal Technical College of East Africa. The Moi University was founded in 1984. It was founded at Eldoret. The Egerton University is located in Njoro. It was founded in 1939. The language in all the universities is English. There were 4,392 teaching staff and 35,421 students attending these universities, and institutions in 1991.
Source:http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Kenya-EDUCATION.html

Hello

2008-10-17T05:51:00.001-07:00

Hello, our class was delighted to help VIST Academy, a school in Kenya. The 5th grade is trying to create fundraisers to raise money to ship books off to Kenya. We all wish to help with as much as we can to help the kenyans.