What you should know about Bomas of Kenya
The Bomas of Kenya is the epicenter of cultural activities where tourists visit to learn about the diverse cultures of different communities in Kenya without going to the remote. Some skilled cultural dancers perform to showcase different types of dances for over 50 dances across Kenya. It also features some traditional hurts to illustrate how traditionalists lived.
The Bomas of Kenya is located 12 kilometers away from Nairobi county adjacent to the Nairobi National Park in Langata constituency. Most people visit both sites to explore nature and wildlife!
As a hub of the cultural tour, the hub was established in 1971 by the Kenya Tourist Development Corporation to ensure the promotion of the preservation of cultures by the Kenyan people. With modernization, some cultures of Kenyans had been threatened in which some people had adopted new social lives. As a result, this cultural center was created to enable the new generation to learn and understand some of the important values and traditions of Africans.
The word boma means home and it implies all the social cultures of ethnic communities in Kenya including Agikuyu, Ameru, Mijikenda, Maasai among others.
The constructed homesteads contain traditional artifacts they have been collected and preserved there to act as learning tools for history students and community. Also, they were built using traditional styles as a way of ensuring the true symbolization of the indigenous cultures of the tribes.
For example, there are cultural stools, skin dresses, calabash, circumcision knives and other ceremonial materials that are used during exhibitions and community celebration days. Moreover, visitors enjoy delicious traditional foods at the Utamaduni restaurant that prepares most Kenyan foods. It boasts of providing diverse foods ranging from sweet potato snacks that are acquired locally. There is also barbeque with ugali, mukimo for Agikuyu, ingokho for Luhya, matoke for Abagusii, Muthokoi for Kamba, vegetables to name but a few. The restaurant is found at the picturesque heart of Langata Road with a serene environment where people can relax and enjoy.
It is an incredible place with spacious terraces that are very ideal for outdoor and indoor feasting events for all sorts of tourists. The other thing that attracts people at Bomas of Kenya is the Harambee dancers that are recognized all over the world due to their electrifying moves.
The government has also built a library with books for all subjects, research findings, journals, magazines, electronic photo albums, audio, videos and other multimedia resources. The library is open from Monday to Friday and is closed on weekends and holidays. There are also ultra-modern conference halls with state of art facilities where other events take place. For example, major political launches, film screening, award ceremonies, charity fundraising are held here since the rooms can accommodate over three thousand people. It is also a beautiful place known for hosting Executives and Very important Persons (VIPs) at Lounges and boardrooms for conducting meetings with investors, interviews and annual conferences. Furthermore, Bomas of Kenya has a new pavilion with a red carpet that offers an amazing experience to the visitors. People utilize these places to throw cocktails and build memorable experiences. Again, there are several multipurpose halls to host exhibitions and corporate events.
Besides, for those who like to host open events such as weddings, festivals and related gatherings, Bomas of Kenya has space with all accessories of electricity. The staff are also professional and friendly to everybody.
Ultimately, Bomas of Kenya is a suitable place where most of the Kenyan cultures are shown through traditional dances, artifacts and historical libraries. It is only at Bomas where tourists get to enjoy traditional foods for different communities in Kenya. In fact, the Kenyan government built this facility to promote advocacy and create awareness about all the most relevant cultures in Kenyan communities.