Safaricom Calendar: March And April For Places Of Hope

As we continue to unpack the Safaricom Calendar for 2023, the month of March and April will be colored with two amazing places of hope; the Vigango Shrine of Kaya Kauma Forest, in Kilifi and the Oreteti Tree, in Maasai Mara.

March

Vigango Shrine of Kaya Kauma Forest | Location: Kilifi

Every community has a story, and at the heart of this story is something that connects all members of the tribe past and present. For the Mijikenda, the Sacred Kaya Forests provide this connection. Kaya is the Mijikenda word for village.

The Kaya Forests are 10 separate forests covering an area of about 200km that have grown over the remains of fortified villages, built to protect the community during times of war that have been abandoned since the start of the 20th century.

The villages were designed to protect the community from marauders, with the people living in a central clearing surrounded by forest cover. Important cultural artifacts were buried in a secret spot in the clearing to repel invaders.

The Mijikenda consider the Forests as the home of their ancestors and a focal point of their culture and identity. A council of Elders looks after the forests on behalf of the community. The Forests are considered sacred grounds.

No children are allowed and even adults must dress appropriately, in a kanga, to access the site visitors cannot set foot on these sacred grounds with shoes on or have any artificial smells on them. The community believes the spirits of their ancestors are alive and visitors come with sacrifices to curry their favor.

The site is the community’s most sacred location. This is where the community’s prayers are offered by the Mulombi, primarily for rain before planting season and for thanksgiving after the harvest. Prayers are also offered during times of war and disease. (During Covid 19-the Mulombi offered prayers.) When praying, the community comes to the site with a chicken and a goat to offer to the ancestors.

The chicken is not slaughtered but thrown against a rock and thrown into the River Nzovuni that flows from the forests all the way to the sea. If the chicken is carried away the prayers are considered successful, if it does not the prayers are deemed unsuccessful.

Related Content: The Safaricom Calendar: The Great Baobab Tree Of Mnarani

April

Oreteti Tree | Location: Maasai Mara

The Masai are world famous for many aspects of their culture; their resplendent shukas, their bravery, their dancing, and their jewelry. However, little is known or spoken about the spirituality of the community which explains why the Oreteti tree is not quite well known.

The Maasai have a collection of plants that they use for medicinal and nutritional purposes but the Oreteti is the only one that is considered sacred- the home Enkai, the creator. The Oreteti has been the center of Masai rituals for generations, every spiritual ceremony in the community is solemnized around the Oreteti.

When young men are sent to the forest for their initiation, their ascendancy to manhood is formalized and blessed by the elders under the Oreteti. During times of drought, the rainmakers said their prayers under the Oreteti.

When a woman fails to conceive, the fertility ceremony times are performed at the Oreteti… The ceremony involves tying the vines of the tree around the woman’s waist, drinking the juice of boiled vines, and walking around the tree seven times.

Related Content: Safaricom Calendar: Gong Rocks Of Lewa For February