Republic of Kenya
Foundation for Stability for the Horn of Africa
Senior Leaders Course
Republic of Kenya has and will remain to personify a major example for democracy and stability in the Horn of Africa. I will establish that The Republic of Kenya* role as a stable democracy will continue to be the example of success for the region of the Horn of Africa. Through cultural, economic, and political development this country should be used as mediator for the region.
Republic of Kenya can trace its origin to the birth of man. The area has been hosted, traded with or colonized by the Greeks, Persians, Arabs, Portuguese, Germans, and Great Britain. This region was used as a major port and ship route for all of these major power*. Arab and Portuguese influence were extremely high starting in the early 16th century and ending in the mid 19th century. English, Dutch and Arab interest softened the Portuguese grasp on this region starting in the 17th century. During the 19th century British and German interest continued to mold this country mold its identity. With Christian missionary work from the Germans, which opened up trade throughout Africa. Kenya was a staging area for Britain during both world wars (History of Kenya-Wikipedia). The experiences gained by the native countrymen cemented the foundation for what the country is today.
During the 1920’s the local populace started to gain a new identity. It started after World War I, when colonial businesses tried to cut wages of the local populace. This was the first catalyst for protests and demonstrations (East Africa Living Encyclopedia). Archdeacon Owen and Harry Thuku created two political movements which started the countrie...
... middle of paper ...
...es to mature, the United States can further its agenda in other areas that could drastically use aid and support.
References
Culture of Kenya - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011, January 3). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved January 16, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Kenya
East Africa Living Encyclopedia. (1996, December 15). African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania. Retrieved January 15, 2011, from http://www.africa.upenn.edu/NEH/kgovernment.htm
Economy of Kenya - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2011, January 3). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved January 16, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy_of_Kenya
History of Kenya - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. (2010, December 19). Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved January 15, 2011, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Kenya
Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies. No. 3 (1965): 524-540. http://www.jstor.org/stable/612097 (accessed December 1, 2013).
Trupin, James E. West Africa - A Background Book from Ancient Kingdoms to Modern Times, Parent's Magazine Press. New York, 1991.
Toyin, Falola. “The Power of African Cultures.” Woodbridge, Suffolk, United Kingdom: University of Rochester Press, 2003. Print
Angeles, Los. (2009). African arts. Volume 28. Published by African Studies Center, University of California.
2004 From Mukogodo To Maasai: Ethnicity and Cultural Change in Kenya (Westview Case Studies in Anthropology), Westview Press, pp. 27-35
Khapoya, Vincent B. The African Experience: An Introduction. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1998. Print.
European colonization in Kenya had a large impact on Africa’s religion and culture. Africa had over 100 ethnic groups in which were effected from the colonization. (Doc.2). The Europeans believed that Africans did not have a developed religion and believed in bizarre thing such as witchcraft (Doc.6). But, in the Abaluyia Story of Creation, it told how the world and man was created, which was really like the European religion of Christianity in which Adam and Eve was made in a similar way. This proved that they indeed did have an organized religion (Doc.7). In 1962, 80% of Kenyans believed in the indigenous beliefs, but after in 2002, only 26% of the population believed in the indigenous beliefs. Because Europeans believed in Christianity, Protestant beliefs went from 7% in 1962 to 38% in 2002, and Catholic beliefs went from 3.5% to 28% (Doc. 8). Europeans felt they gave Africans the Christian religion, a “superior” form of government, and a more developed civilization (Background Essay). The colonization in Kenya changed their culture also. Kenyans changed their clothing. Leaders of Kenya including the first president Jomo Kenyatta wore clothing very similar to the clothing of the Europeans (Doc.5). This made people feel that their clothing was not in fashion and they had to follow the way of the Europeans. This decreased the amount of people wearing their regular clothing and the amount of people following their own culture. Kenya’s religion and culture truly converted, because of European colonization.
... Cambridge Encyclopedia of Africa. Ed. Roland Oliver. 1. New York: Trewin Copplestone Books Limited, 1984. Print.
The roots of the colonial history of Kenya travels back to the Berlin Conference in 1885, whe...
In Kenya, it is comprised of several different groups that are distinct ethno-linguistic. Over several decades, Kenya has evolved both biologically and culturally. This culture has a great diversity of customs and family patterns. To understand the families in Kenya, it is also important to understand their culture backgrounds and where they come from. Family has a high value in this culture and is considered the center of community life. The children here hold an upmost importance because it can be considered an economic advantage having more children and also wives too. It is common here for families to have eight or more children because there was a
Bohannan, Paul, and Philip Curtin. Africa & Africans . Long Grove: Waveland Press, Inc. , 1995.
On the eastern coast of Africa lies a land full of sunny blue skies and large plains in which zebras and elephants roam. This land is the country of Kenya. Outside of Kenya’s cities and towns lies many samples of natures beauty. Unfortunately, the people living in this land are troubled by their struggle with the government and trying to form a democracy. Matthew Carotenuto stated, “Much of the world had historically viewed Kenya as an island of peace and economic potential in a roiling sea of stateless chaos.” What he means is that people have long seen Kenya as a peaceful place that is surrounded by countries suffering from all sorts of violence and unfortunate circumstances. What many people do not know is that Kenya has a long history for political violence going way back to when the country was colonized. Understanding that Kenya’s past violence was due to their struggle for social and political authority helps us understand some of their violence issues today. According to Maina Kiai, violence broke out after Kenya’s 2007 election. Many people had thought that Kenya was a more peaceful country compared to others in Africa because they were working towards a democracy. Currently Kenya is a republic (“Kenya” The World...). Another thing Kiai mentioned is that one of Kenya’s major political problems is that Kenya's constitution gives the president full power to elect anyone he wants into a political position for any salary he chooses. Scott Baldauf and Robert Crilly also explain how Kenya is trying to become a democracy but its political system is weak and allows the president too much power, making the nation a dictatorship in disguise. This leads to many ethical issues within the governments systems. We should care about Ken...
Kenya is a republic of East Africa. It is bordered by the Indian Ocean on the southeast. The capital of Kenya is Nairobi. It is located in the south central part of the country. It has a population of 1.5 million. The National Musum of Kenya, the National Theater and the University of Nairobi are in the city.
Kaduna: Baraka Press, 2004. Magesa, Laurenti. A. African Religion: The Moral Tradition of Abundant Life. Nairobi: Pauline Pub., Africa, 1998. Mbiti, John S. Introduction to African Religion.
...econd African Writers Conference, Stockholm, 1986. Ed. Kirsten Holst Petersen. Upsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies, 1998. 173-202.