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Home > SIMPact > SIMPacters > Culture and Language KENYAN CULTURE AND LANGUAGE Observations on Kenyan Culture Observations on Kenyan Culture Trying to describe any culture in simple terms will most definitely result in failure, and Kenya is no exception. There are over 35 tribal people groups, each with their own language and traditions, settled upon an equally diverse land. This page is to simply outline some areas for your benefit, and should not be seen as complete or infallible. The greatest understanding comes from interacting with Kenyans themselves, or those who have experienced the nation first hand. On that thought, here are a few cultural observations made by missionaries to Kenya for your consideration. Though these things will also be discussed during orientation, it is never a bad idea to prepare as much as possible beforehand. First and foremost, Kenyans are very hospitable and typically will share whatever they have with you. Offering refreshment is a sign of welcome so refusal can be offensive. But with regards to chai (tea), water or food, many Kenyans are sensitive to stomach issues and illness. Kenyans are relatively passive people and non-confrontational. While this makes for a generally peaceful country, it may be difficult to determine whether you have done something to cause offense or not. Kenya is primarily a Christian country by name if not by faith, but there is a growing Muslim population with the influx of refugees from neighboring countries. Other religions, including tribal and Hinduism, are small but active as well. Kenya has a rising middle class which can be evidenced through the growing number of vehicles, imported goods, and restaurants becoming available. Education is also very important to the Kenyans. Nairobi is a city of contrasts. You will see women carrying goods on their heads to market and a moment later see a BMW with the driver talking on a mobile phone. Recent generations have amplified this contrast as traditional homes and tribal practices are exchanged for modern lifestyles and ideas. Punctuality to attend meetings, events (church, weddings, etc) is generally NOT important to Kenyans. Be prepared to wait and to have the limits of your flexibility stretched. If you are supposed to have a meeting with an individual, it may be wise to call just before leaving to confirm the existance, time and venue of that meeting. Kenyans are definitely relationship oriented as compared to being time oriented. Community and family are defining influences upon Kenyan life though the structure may be hard to understand initially. You will see few signs of affection between married couples displayed in public: i.e. holding hands, arm around shoulder, or a kiss on the cheek. It is accepted practice for two Kenyan men to walk together holding hands without it indicating anything more than a normal friendship. When greeting, one should shake hands for as long as the greeting lasts. This goes beyond just saying “hello” to also asking about their family and their work. A familiar greeting for women is to hug three times side to side and then end with a handshake, which implies “we have peace between us.” Making the “ok” sign with three fingers up and your index finger and thumb making a circle is considered a vulgar sign here. You will see folks make a fist with just their thumb up, and that means everything is OK. The "Peace" or "victory" sign also has other meanings and it is best to avoid. Direct eye contact is not common and definitely should be avoided between a man and a woman who are not married or very well acquainted. The following is a list of books, not specifically for Kenya, but on cross-cultural service that you may find interesting:
Observations on Language English and Kiswahili are both recognized as the national languages of Kenya. Most public schools teach classes in English with required Kiswahili courses. Therefore, it is very valuable to be able to speak some Kiswahili. Even just knowing the greetings and a few basic words will go a long way in building relationships. Depending on your ministry and length of term, however, it may not be worthwhile learning a great deal of Kiswahili. Kiswahili is the trade language of Kenya, not a primary tribal language for most, and many areas may not use it frequently. Despite the ease and general popularity of Kiswahili and English, neither are mother-tongues for most Kenyans. If you are seeking to learn a bit of Kiswahili, both Lonely Planet and Rough Guide have excellent phrase books. These are useful not only for vocabulary, grammar and definitions, but also for some cultural insights. For developing pronunciation, it would be beneficial to listen to recordings. The least expensive way is to see if your local library has any tapes by Berlitz, or by another company. The Internet* also has many resources. Here are a few that may help you with some introductory material:
Here are some other resources:
These resources will be available to you while you are on the compound in Kenya, but you might benefit from looking at something beforehand. *Notice: We are not responsible for the content of outside sites. |
