A WEEK OF CULTURE

Kimathi University woke up on Monday 12^th November to what was to be a weeklong celebration of culture dubbed Kimathi Cultural week. The event is usually hosted by the student body KUTSO once a year and involves various activities that stretch through the week. Different dress codes are laid for each day; a norm for the social event. Monday was for the old school wear that saw guys bringing the old school tough in their outfits. Tuesday was for casual wear while Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday were for crazy, official, sporty and general wear. The day that brought many to attention was Wednesday’s crazy wear seeing a couple of dudes dressing like the ladies. On spot was a first year male student that put on a waist-high dress that was matched with a bra that was kept on check with two cups; the look was sealed with a shoe on one foot and a sandal on the other. Kababa, a second year I.T student was also part of this and put on a feminine clad that was to see him win the crazy wearer of the day. 

The crazy lads

The event had a slow start with the first day being dedicated to tree planting. It picked up by Wednesday seeing some students being ferried to Nyeri town for the town clean up. Each day was wrapped up with an evening show hosted by local artist C.J on which contenders for the dressing codes battled out and eventually winners crowned in both gentlemen and ladies categories. The evening shows were well attended as everyone tried to catch a glimpse of what was happening on an otherwise overcrowded podium at the school’s student center. A deejay face-off that was scheduled for Friday evening was shifted to Saturday afternoon and later to Saturday evening during Mr. and Miss Kimathi night. This arose mixed reactions from the students with some criticizing the organizing body for what they termed a shoddy work. Well, everything turned out right in the end. 

The purpose of the event was to appreciate our culture, give back to the community and largely for students to have fun. A closer look and one could see that the first years this time round were much active and put up a spirited fight for the evening cash rewards for the rest of the other groups, bingo! Kimathi media group wishes to congratulate the organizing team for the good job on their part and ensuring the event was a success.

Kimathi, A Home of Cultures

Just like a jungle comprised of animals with different species, different ways of life and eating habits, a university setting is a clear image of the same environment. In a jungle,there is struggle for existence for the minority ones while the superior are said to run the ‘business’. On the contrary, KUCT stood out as an institution where cultural diversity is something worth bragging about. The integration of different cultures, apart from enhancing peaceful co-existence between students it has also boosted the efforts by various government institutions to enhance national unity.

The recently concluded cultural week gave a platform to various appreciation of cultures that the university is wealthy of. The Kikuyu, Kalenjin, Luo and Luhya cultures were among the many that were appreciated. The students hailing from these communities had demonstrations of their favorite meals and dances. It was pomp and color as the stage was filled to the brim with students dancing to the tunes of various songs from different cultural backgrounds.

The Luhya community opened the stage with their Isukuti and kamaveka dances thanks to the preparations made by KUMSA. Their favorite meal ingokho and traditional vegetable isucha was served with ugali. Women dressed in their traditional outfits served men as a show of respect as expected of them in the Luhya culture. It was all jeers as they left the stage dancing to the tune of the famous Mukangala song. What a culture!

The Luo community followed on stage with their Ohangla dance well organized by the Ramogi association. As the dances went down, one could tell how the whole crowd cheered and joined them in their peacock like moves. Thefamous Tony Nyadundo hits graced their time at the stage with the mammoth crowd singing and dancing to the tunes.

The Kalenjin community came third on stage with the famous hit, Emilly chepchumba by Motomoto band. Mouth-watering dishes prepared by the team were served to the students. The aroma of murisik,isochot and kimyet filled the entire hall as the lucky bit had a chance to taste the delicacies. The stage was made full to capacity when the hit kiptindinyo was put. The security personnel had to come in to limit the number of people on stage as dancing styles from all walks of life were up for grabs. Thanks to the preparation made by Kirisa-Kitwek association as the whole demonstration was a success!

The Kikuyu community closed the session with Mugithi almost bursting up the roofs of the strongest building around, the Catholic hall! It wasn’t a stage anymore since everybody was up on their feet dancing to the tunes of Ken Wamaria. As the DJ ended the songs it was all heckling at him with dissatisfaction for they all wanted the songs to continue. What a lovely evening!

As the decks and turntables were bundled up and the music dwindled off it was all lessons well learnt! Appreciating one another regardless of their origin was a virtue to borrow from the crowd moving events. The esteemed academicians were reminded of their roots but at the same time the fact that that should not be a basis of disunity among them was emphasized. Just as everyone danced to the tunes of different origin and enjoyed the delicacies as a united KUCT,the same is expected of us in our daily activities. It is our responsibility to shun away tribalism then sit back and enjoy the cultural diversity the KUCT community brags of. Unity moves mountains, trust me.
by: Juma Stephen

THE KIMATHI CULTURAL WEEK

THE KIMATHI CULTURAL WEEK

Students displaying the cultural attires at the university's Student Centre.

It was pomp and color as the mightiful culture week event was officially opened on Monday with the occasion graced by the KUCTSO chairman, Kabutu Peter.The highly expectant ‘freshers’ maintained the daily dress code as their zeal and anxiety to witness their maiden culture week in the university could not be compromised, as their actions clearly displayed their thoughts. Indeed the freshmen had dedicated themselves to full participation in the eventful week as most of them garnered the daily awards.

Bill Shankly, a legendary football manager once stated, and I quote,” IfI were a road sweeper then my street would have been the cleanest in the borough.”From the daily unfolding of events within the week, it seemed like the contestants of the daily awards, on merit of the best dressed, were emulating Bill as they worked excellently hard to pocket a cash prize of ‘punch’ through donning the attire of the day, entertaining the jubilant crowd with superb dances.

The magnificent Kimathi university fraternity showed its prowess in promoting the ‘green culture’ whose pace was set by the late Prof.Wangari Mathai as they planted a number of trees within the Arbedares game reserve thanks to the brilliant idea by the organizing team. As the days of the week elapsed, the event gained not only increasing support but also much attention from the non-interested comrades.It saw several students turn up at the Student Centre to support, whoever on their view, deserved an accolade for their best performances.

However, the selection of winners was accompanied by much controversies. A number of students dimmed the judges of being biased and centered on self-interest. But the symbolism of money bestrides good and boundaries evil, so anything was expected and this is a factor that was so significant in the various competitions held. The event saw many elites come together to enhance the importance of promoting peace, unity, health and cultural diversity: this being the backbone of the cultural week, through delivering public talks and lectures to the entire university community.

The students in their upfront endeavor to improve sanitation as a major health factor, organized a successful town cleaning process in Nyeri town: the university setting. This sounded like a ‘trumpet’ call to the entire community to help improve sanitation as the country spearheads towards attaining vision 2030.

The climax of the cultural week almost hit a deadlock after the Friday events stalled. However, the massive crowd that attended the DJ face-off to witness the skillful university DJs showcase epic music mix performances, was a perfect indicatorof the high spirits among the comrades being revived. Marking the colorful end of the event was the gala night.Many students from diverse cultural backgrounds exhibited the untold part of their cultures right at the catholic hall. Why did it end too soon? That was the rhetorical question for many as the decks and turntables were finally bundled up as the music dwindled off.

Will the community arise to the call for unity raised by various elites during this much coveted cultural week event? It is our responsibility as students to display the brilliance that we justified during the gratifying climax of the event, to help shun tribalism and disunity within the country.

by: Ndemo Kevin.