NAIROBI: The Marakwet Community is set to host its first cultural festival on November 8, 2024, at Bomas of Kenya, aiming to showcase its rich culture and pass on knowledge to the next generation. The festival, which will continue until Saturday dawn, has attracted music artists from the community and various dignitaries. According to Kenya News Agency, during a media briefing in Nairobi, Marakwet Cultural Festival Chairman John Kisang stated that the festival would highlight the unique history of the Marakwet culture, which has reportedly never been documented. 'Our rich culture touches on various items such as traditional songs, economic lives, the food we eat, and even our rites of passage. All these serve to educate the community on the pros and cons of life,' Kisang explained. Kisang emphasized that the event seeks to demonstrate how the Marakwet community coexists with the natural environment despite the influence of Western education on their way of life. Christine Cherop, the Marakwet Cultural Festi val Director and Coordinator, remarked that the event also aims to foster unity among various communities through knowledge sharing and cultural exchange. 'We have been organizing such events at our native homes, but we chose to do one in Nairobi to educate our youth who have not been able to strongly connect with their culture,' she said. Cherop added that the festival will enlighten the world about the history of the Marakwet community, aiding in the preservation of the community's culture. 'We want our children to understand the culture since they are future leaders of the community and the world as a whole,' she added. Kikie Kendagor, a member of the Marakwet Cultural Festival and in charge of Information, Communication, and Documentary, outlined that the Marakwet community lives within the measures of the natural environment. 'This is because the community lies between the Cherangany forest and the Kerio Valley,' he noted. Kendagor explained that their culture is governed by customary laws deeply enshr ined in the community, emphasizing the importance of relating to wildlife and natural resources. He shared insights about naming customs, where children are named after wild animals and seasons, such as the name Cherop for a lady, which signifies the rainy season. 'The Marakwet used to predict seasons or changes in climate using migratory birds and reptiles, such as the croaking of frogs to signify the emergence of a rainy season,' Kendagor added. He also disclosed that traditional attire for the community includes goat skin and leg beads for women, symbolizing motherhood. In terms of education, Kendagor mentioned that the Marakwet community employs proverbs, artifacts, cultural events, traditional attire, and storytelling to impart knowledge to the youth. 'The most essential item that we want to pass to the next generation is our customary laws and the rites of passage since it is a symbol of our identification,' Kendagor stated. He emphasized the need to protect the natural ecosystem, as it is crucial for preserving the Marakwet community's way of life.