By:Glory Mwagambo
Giriama traditional artists from Kenya’s coastal region are turning to ancestral traditions in search of financial stability, as they say years of performing for tourists and at major events have failed to translate into meaningful economic gains.
The artists, led by traditional performers Fatuma Nyamawi and Katana Gona, recently visited Kaya Fungo, a sacred forest in Kilifi County, where Kaya elders conducted cleansing and blessing rituals intended to remove what the artists believe are spiritual barriers to their financial success.
Nyamawi, who performs mainly in tourist hotels across Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties, said she has struggled financially despite years in the entertainment industry.
She said the artists believe seeking guidance and blessings from their ancestors could help them overcome what they describe as persistent misfortune.
Gona, a performer of the traditional Mkonyonyo dance and music, said many Giriama artists entertain tourists, dignitaries and travellers at hotels and airports, yet continue to struggle economically.
He said the group would continue consulting Kaya elders and seeking their blessings as they pursue better opportunities.
Kaya elders’ youth leader Nguma Charo expressed concern over the economic challenges facing traditional artists, saying some prominent performers from previous generations died in poverty despite gaining recognition beyond Kenya’s coastal region.
The artists’ experience highlights a wider challenge facing traditional performers in Kenya and across Africa, where cultural heritage plays a significant role in tourism and entertainment, but many artists struggle to earn sustainable incomes from their work.
