Category: Design Reparations

Our Experience at Nairobi Design Week 2025

Nairobi Design Week was an incredible experience for us at Kenge Content Hive. It was our first time attending such an event, and from the moment we arrived, we could feel the excitement and energy. We were surrounded by people from all over the world—creatives, designers, artists, and innovators—who were all eager to learn, share, and connect. It was an inspiring space, and we felt proud to represent our community from Busijo, Busia on such a big platform.

At our exhibition booth, we focused on sharing the stories and traditional knowledge of the Samia community. We showed how elders in our community have used sustainable practices for generations, from farming and fishing to weather forecasting. Many visitors came to our booth to learn more about our work, and we had some great conversations about how traditional knowledge can guide modern solutions, especially when it comes to climate change and environmental conservation.

One of the most important moments for us was the panel discussion on Decolonizing Design, where we talked about how design can serve communities instead of exploiting them. We were joined by two designers, Marrie Williams and Sarah Mpapuluu, who shared their experiences working on projects that aim to empower communities through design. We also had the chance to speak on the panel, where we shared how climate change has affected our local communities in Busia. We talked about how unpredictable rainfall, prolonged droughts, and rising water levels have disrupted farming, fishing, and food security in our area. It was a golden opportunity for us to explain how traditional knowledge, like regenerative farming and sustainable fishing, can help us strengthen our climate resilience.

Mzee Manga, an elder from Busijo in the Samia community, also shared his wisdom during the panel. He talked about traditional practices that have sustained our people for generations, like planting cotton to protect the soil, using traditional fishing baskets to avoid overfishing, and reading the winds to predict the weather. His words were powerful, and it was clear that many people in the audience were inspired by his insights.

Our Projects Going Forward

During Nairobi Design Week, we introduced two major projects that we will be focusing on in our community:

1. Regeneration Festival
The Regeneration Festival will be a big community event aimed at promoting environmental conservation, climate action, and cultural revival. The goal of this festival is to bring people together—especially youth and elders—so that we can learn from each other and find solutions to the problems we face as a community. We want to create a space where people can discuss important issues like climate change, poverty, and food security while celebrating our culture and traditions. This festival will include activities like tree planting, traditional dances, storytelling, and workshops on sustainable farming, weaking and fishing.

2. Cultural Revival Program
Our second project is the Cultural Revival Program, which aims to preserve and promote the rich cultural heritage of the Samia community. We want to work closely with the County Government of Busia, especially the Department of Culture and Tourism, to make good use of the Bumbe Cultural Centre. Our plan is to decorate the center with cultural artifacts, traditional materials, and artworks that reflect the history and traditions of the Samia people. By doing this, we hope to boost eco-tourism in the area and give locals and visitors a chance to learn about and appreciate our culture. We will also be able to document and  publish our cultural and traditional practices for posterity.

We believe that these two projects will play a big role in strengthening our community and helping us build a more sustainable and resilient future. By sparking intergenerational conversations and promoting traditional knowledge, we can find solutions to the challenges we face today while also preserving our culture for future generations.

Moving Forward

Nairobi Design Week was just the beginning. Now, we are excited to take what we learned and put it into action back in our community. We are grateful to everyone who supported us at the event and to all the people who showed interest in our projects. We hope to keep working with our partners, design reparations, designers, creatives, and local leaders to achieve our vision and make a real difference in our community. Our Ultimate goal is to reclaim our power, revive our culture, and restore the dignity of our people.

By Oscar Ryan Ouma, Founder, Kenge Content Hive.

The Art of Traditional craft: How Mzee Edward’s Skill can inspire modern designers.

Mzee Edward Namuye from Busijo Village in the Samia community is a skilled artisan dedicated to traditional craftsmanship. At 76 years old, he has spent his entire life making chicken coops (Amadiri,) a craft that has sustained and helped him educate his children.

Beyond chicken coops, Mzee Edward also remembers the traditional fishing baskets called Vibamu and Mikono. These baskets, commonly used in the community, were designed to catch fish sustainably, ensuring that only sizable fish were caught while allowing younger ones to grow. Unlike modern fishing nets, which often deplete fish populations indiscriminately, these traditional methods reflect a respect for nature that is becoming increasingly rare.

Despite the value of his craft, Mzee Edward faces a growing challenge—none of his grandchildren are interested in learning the skill, and none of his children, while growing up, expressed interest in learning his craft either. He notes that younger generations are drawn to quick financial rewards and  are reluctant to invest time in a craft that requires patience and dedication. He earns close to KSH 700 per basket and often struggles to keep up with demand, yet this does not attract the younger generation to take up the skill.

Looking toward the future, Mzee Edward hopes for support in setting up fish cages to promote sustainable fishing practices within the Busijo community. He also believes collaboration between elders and youth is essential for preserving cultural heritage and environmental sustainability. He notes that by forming intergenerational groups, they could engage in activities like beekeeping and sustainable agriculture, ensuring that traditional knowledge is passed down and creating economic opportunities in our communities, country, and globally.

From Design Reparations, Cecilia Scolaro emphasizes the importance of looking into ancestral wisdom to combat climate change. She notes that traditional practices, like those upheld by Mzee Edward, offer valuable insights into sustainable living. By integrating these traditions with modern design approaches, communities can create innovative and deeply rooted cultural heritage solutions. As part of their ongoing efforts, Design Reparations plans to feature Samia traditions at the Nairobi Design Week to educate a global audience on the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge.

Mzee Edward's story serves as a powerful reminder of the value embedded in traditional craftsmanship. For modern designers, his work inspires how age-old techniques can inform contemporary design, promoting sustainability, cultural continuity, and respect for natural resources. By bridging the gap between past and present, there is an opportunity to create a future where tradition and innovation coexist harmoniously.

The article was written by Ian Francis Onyango, the Co-founder of Kenge Content Hive.

Reviving Traditional Knowledge: Strengthening Climate Resilience in Busijo Community – along the Lake Victoria basin in Busia County.

Reviving Traditional Knowledge: Strengthening Climate Resilience in Busijo Community - along the Lake Victoria basin in Busia County. 

The story of climate change in our Busijo community, a village along the shores of Lake Victoria in Busia County in Kenya, is one that runs deep, woven into the very fabric of our daily lives. Here, climate change isn’t just a distant phenomenon we hear about on the news. It’s a harsh, lived reality that has turned our once fertile lands into barren spaces, where survival has become a constant battle. The rhythm of nature that once sustained our way of life is now thrown out of balance and in turn leaving many in our community to face the consequences—poverty, deforestation, and the depletion of vital resources like water and soil.

Yet, amidst these challenges, a treasure of hope that is remaining is hidden in the wisdom of our elders. These are men and women whose connection to the land has never faltered, who still remember a time when our community thrived in harmony with nature. Their knowledge, passed down through generations, offers invaluable lessons that hold the keys to not only surviving but thriving in the face of climate change.

In the past, long before the arrival of modern technology, our ancestors relied on their understanding of nature’s rhythms to guide them through life. They observed the subtle changes in weather, plant life, and animal behavior, and from these signs, they knew exactly when to plant crops, fish, and even when to prepare for heavy rains or drought. For instance, the shedding of leaves from indigenous trees like the Mitumba (African Oak) would signal that it was time to begin planting. The community would gather, united in a shared understanding that the land and its cycles could not be rushed. There was patience, there was care, and, most importantly, there was respect for the natural world.

Fishing, too, followed a natural rhythm. Elders like Mzee Tobby Malimba, Former Assistant Chief, now 88, recall how the phases of the moon dictated the best times to cast their nets and fish. Fishing wasn’t done indiscriminately—it followed a careful balance that ensured the lake’s fish stocks were never depleted. 

Today, that balance has been disturbed. The younger generation, swept up in the rush of modern life, has largely lost touch with the land. Fertilizers and pesticides, unknown to our forefathers, are now common in farming, and the traditional practices that once allowed the soil to replenish itself have been abandoned. Deforestation has added to the problem, stripping the soil of its natural protection. Trees that once stood tall, providing shade, medicine, and a home for wildlife, have been cut down without being replaced. Namarenge, an elder in Busijo community, speaks of a time when the land was lush with native trees like the Musiola Tree (Markhamia lutea), whose bark was used to treat a variety of ailments. Jacinta also another elder, shares a similar sentiment. She remembers being treated with a simple herbal remedy for swollen legs, made from the bark of a native tree.

The wisdom of elders like Mzee Toby, Namarenge, and Jacinta is a stark reminder of what has been lost. But it also offers a roadmap for the future. Their stories of regenerative farming, sustainable fishing, and the use of native trees for medicinal purposes point to the vital importance of reconnecting with the land. If we are to combat the effects of climate change, we must return to these practices—not in opposition to modern technology, but in harmony with it. By blending the old with the new, we can create a more sustainable future for Busijo and the wider Lake Victoria basin.

The challenge, however, is not just about restoring what has been lost. It’s about bridging the gap between generations. The younger members of our community have grown up in a world of smartphones, social media, and fast-paced living. Convincing them to embrace the slow, patient ways of their forefathers isn’t easy. But it is very essential. Traditional knowledge is not a relic of the past—it is a living, breathing resource that can guide us through the uncertainties of the future.

We need to urgently create opportunities for these generations to come together. Community workshops, Village barazas, storytelling sessions, and practical projects like tree planting and sustainable fishing practices can provide a space for this exchange of knowledge. It is only by working together—elders and youth, tradition and innovation—that we can build the resilience needed to face the challenges of climate change.

One such initiative that holds promise is the idea of integrating traditional knowledge into modern design innovations. By learning from our elders and combining their insights with cutting-edge technology, we can develop solutions that not only address the immediate impacts of climate change but also tackle its root causes. Sustainable fishing policies, regenerative farming practices, and large-scale community tree-planting efforts are just some of the ways we can begin to reverse the damage that has been done.

As we look to the future, the message from our elders is clear: we must return to the land, learn from its rhythms, and respect its boundaries. In doing so, we will not only ensure the survival of our community but also create a legacy of resilience for generations to come.

The writer, Ian Francis Onyango is a media analyst at the Media Council of Kenya and the co-founder of Kenge Content Hive Organization.