President William Ruto, on Friday, November 8, donned traditional Maasai attire upon his arrival in Narok to inaugurate the first Maasai Cultural Week.
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This event, which takes place alongside the annual wildebeest migration, is being held at Sekenani in the Maasai Mara, Narok.
Upon arrival, Ruto was welcomed by Narok Governor Patrick Ole Ntutu, along with Jonathan Leleit of Samburu and Governor Ole Lenku of Kajiado.
The Maasai, known for their unique and vibrant traditional dress, wear “shukas” wrapped around their bodies, paired with sandals featuring plastic or tire soles.
The look is completed with colorful beaded jewelry, showcasing intricate craftsmanship with materials like ivory, bones, shells, clay, charcoal, iron, seeds, and woods.
The President also wore flat sandals and carried a traditional rod.
Maasai Cultural Week brings together Maa-speaking communities from Narok, Kajiado, Samburu, Laikipia, Nakuru, and the Njembs of Baringo.
The festival host, Governor Ntutu, noted that the event aims to boost tourism and create revenue by celebrating Maasai heritage.
This cultural celebration highlights the role of culture in socio-economic development, encouraging greater resource investment for cultural preservation and collaboration between national and county governments.
Cultural and creative industries are essential for social cohesion, tourism growth, foreign investment, job creation, and income generation.
Events like Maasai Cultural Week provide a vital platform for Kenyan communities to celebrate, preserve, and pass on their cultural heritage, promoting pride and unity while minimizing commercial influence.
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