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.