YOU CAN’T TALK ABOUT THE COAST WITHOUT TALKING ABOUT KENYA

Hy guys, welcome to another episode of keeping up with Crystal (Crystal’s Voyage). Remember I told you guys about a very distant trip I made to the coast of kenya a few days back…well!! I have been thinking, it is impossible to talk about the coast of Kenya without talking about Kenya-Nairobi as a whole. The Republic of Kenya or Kenya as it is popularly known is a country in East Africa with its capital city Nairobi, is bordered by South Sudan to the North West, Ethiopia to the North, Somalia to the East, Uganda to the West, Tanzania to the South and the Indian Ocean to the South-East.

Kenya is mostly known for its stupendous archaeological sites, tourism attractions like the Safaris, National Parks and Game Reserves, historical mosques and colonial-era forts at Mombasa, Malindi, and Lamu; the splendid and ever famous Mount Kenya and Mount Kilimanjaro, the Great Rift Valley; the tea plantations at Kericho; the coffee plantations at Thika; and the beaches along the Swahili Coast, in the Indian Ocean. We can say for sure that tourism is the major source of income revenue for Kenya after agriculture and oil.

ART IS EVERYTHING IN KENYA

Another most amazing thing that you wouldn’t dare miss out in kenya is their love for art. Ranging from matatu artwork to murals and graffiti to calligraphy. They come up with themes like the face of their favourite NBA player, to the ex-president of America- Barack Obama, to local heroes like Wangari Maathai, or famous hip-hop/rap artists. As a foreigner like me, you should muster the C-word to ride in one of those, with the bus conductor collecting transport fare before reaching your destination is amusing, to the music played a bit loud and out of decorum (either jazz or hip-hop), anyways, the Nairobians seem comfortable with that.

A VISIT TO THE FAMOUS KAREN BLIXEN MUSEUM.

Have you heard of Karen Blixen, the Danish author who left her comfort zone (according to stories, she wasn’t well appreciated as an author in her hometown) to come to Kenya, a land flowing with milk and honey (smiles!!). Karen Dinesen Blixen (nicknamed “Tanne”) was the second oldest in a family of three sisters and two brothers. Soon after she left her fatherland to Kenya, she got married in Mombasa on 14 January 1914 and became known as Baroness Blixen. Initially, Karen and Bror Blixen planned to raise cattle on their farm, but eventually they became convinced that coffee would be more profitable. The Karen Coffee Company was established by Aage Westerholz (Karen’s brother) and in 1916, they purchased a larger farm, M’Bogani, near the Ngong Hills to the south–west of Nairobi. The property covered 6,000 acres (2,400 ha) of land: 600 acres (240 ha) were used for a coffee plantation, 3,400 acres (1,400 ha) were used by the natives for grazing, and 2,000 acres (810 ha) of virgin forest were left untouched. Fast-forward to March, 1931, the coffee plantation fell as a result of mismanagement, the height of the farm, drought and the falling price of coffee and this forced Blixen to abandon her estate and sell the land to a residential developer. Karen Blixen returned to Denmark in August 1931 to live with her mother. She remained in Rungstedlund for the rest of her life.

P.S: There are other interior pictures of the Blixen Museum but for some reasons best known to me… I rather not post them…

A VISIT TO THE FIRST CHURCH IN EAST AFRICA

I would rather have preferred to post this in the next episode but it’s all the same right? So at the coast, I got to visit the very first Christian church building constructed in Rabai, Kenya, dating to 1846 and also the Rabai museum which focuses on the work of Johann Ludwig Krapf, who built the church with Johannes Rebmann.

CUISINES IN KENYA

Every country has its delicacies distinct to them and Kenya is certainly not left behind. Nairobi is full of restaurants with diverse menus from all corners of the globe, ranging from chapati (prepared with flour, salt and water and can either be brown or white), pilau (I call it jollof rice cause its similar to that of the Nigerians and Ghanians), hamri, ugali, Wali wa Nazi (Coconut Rice) and a whole lot more

LANGUAGE IN KENYA/NAIROBI

It is known that the pre-dominant language in Kenya is the Kiswahili or short form Swahili. But did you know that there is another called the SHENG. It is a combination of both Swahili from different tribes in Kenya and English. For example, someone tells you Sasa (what’s up), and you are to reply Poa (I’m good). I have learnt from my sources (smiles) that this is far an informal way to greet. The formal way to greet is Habari and you are to reply Mzuri. Furthermore, the most formal way to greet is Shikamoo and the response is Marahaba. (I’m still learning sha) …

A VISIT TO THE BEACH @ KILIFI

In three words my friends!!: it was beautiful. Words cannot express the joy i felt seeing that blue body of water going back and forth from the shore. it was to me, a sight to behold

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ARE YOU THINKING SOUVENIRS FOR LOVED ONES? VISIT THE MASSAI MARKET OR THE KISII SOAPSTONE ARTS AND CRAFTS

I cannot spend a whole 3 months in Kenya-Nairobi without heading out to the Massai market or the Kisii market for arts and crafts and at least purchase beautiful handmade products of smooth finishing for my loved ones

KENYA… A PLACE TO BE

Did you notice that I haven’t actually started visiting Kenya? yeah! That’s right cause I haven’t. There are places I still haven’t visited like the six unique world heritage sites; Lamu Old Town, Fort Jesus, Kenya Lake Systems, Mijikenda Kaya Forests, Mt Kenya National Parks and Lake Turkana National Parks, McMillian Library, the National Museums of Kenya, the Arboretum, the Massai Mara, the national parks and game reserves. Long after I have left Kenya, there are some things that will stay with me forever – little treasures, both tangible and intangible. I will occasionally remember the faces, the journeys, the tastes and sounds and I will smile to myself because I got to experience something magical… surely, it’s a place to be.

Hy everyone.. I am Okeke Nneoma Crystal. I am a full-fledged Nigerian (i said that with a lot of emphasis right? yeah cause thats what it is…a proud Nigerian) and an Igbo girl at that (oya!! IGBO KWENU!!!).. Okay… I am a girl and am 23 years old.. A graduate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka… studied Archaeology and Tourism.

Growing up wasn’t all a bed of roses..but you know that saying that says “when life throws stones at you..don’t frown or squeeze your face so hard..pick up the stone and build a castle with it”. Anyways.. i have grown up to stronger and independent, goal-oriented and hardworking.. I am better than i was yesterday and would be better than I am tomorrow. Not to forget also, I AM ALSO GOD-FEARING…(an Igbo adage says..okro adighi akari onye koro ya– you know the plant okro right?..yeah it can grow past the person that planted it).. In whatsoever I do, I always put my creator first..(to me, he is all that MATTERS). Anyways, I am a pure lover of arts and crafts (am practically married to it). Ever wondered why arts and cultures are the different but interpretations hold similarities..wondered why cultures are intertwined_(the Englishman didn’t lie when he said “Culture is the way of Life”)

Fast-forward to 2019/2020, got a research scholarship to study at Kenya-Nairobi, enjoy the moment whilst engaging in numerous field trips- explore culture-arts and crafts in its raw, untainted form. So my first trip was to Kilifi county- a small but fascinating town in coastal Kenya (do you want to read about it… watch out for the next episode of keeping up with Crystal (smiles!!!))- rich with numerous crafts, splendid cuisines and a whole whats-not… STAY TUNED PEEPS!!!

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