BOMAS OF KENYA

Situated 10km from Nairobi city centre  and about  1km past the main  entrance of the  game- filled  Nairobi National park .(you can combine a visit to both ) Bomas of Kenya lets you  see the wonderful diversity of cultures that make up this fascinating  country. At Bomas different aspects of Kenyan cultures are displayed including living styles, crafts, music and dancing. The word bomas was derived from “boma” – a Swahili word for enclosed homestead and there are now at least eleven (11) different “bomas” each one representing one of the Kenya’s major ethnic groups

Photography and Filming at the Bomas of Kenya; Visitors are allowed to take photographs, but must obtain authority from the management about filming before hand. Take a leisurely tour of the traditional villages before or after watching the Bomas Dancers for an insight into the rich diversity of the Kenya culture.

Bomas of Kenya professional traditional dancers are available for hire all over the world upon prior booking. Their schedule includes appearances in Theatres, Hotels, and Fairs in both local and international shows. Booking arrangements can be made by Niche Africa Holidays.

Timing of Events at Bomas of Kenya Auditorium

2:30pm - 4:00pm during weekdays – Monday to Friday
3:30pm – 5:15pm during weekends and public holidays.

The Ethnic group of Kenya

Kenya occupies unique position in Africa as a crossroad of major enthnic groups. In very broad terms, these can be divided into the following

Bantu
The major Bantu tribes are Kikuyu, meru, Embu the Mijikenda (the nine coastal tribes of which the larges are Giriama and Digo), Luhya, Kamba, Kisii, Taita and the Kuria. They are the most widely distributed group ranging from the coast to the Southwest and around Mt. Kenya.

Nilotic
The only large Nilotic group in Kenya is the Luo tribes on the shores of Lake Victoria in the Western Kenya.

Nilo Hamitic
The major tribes are the Maasai, Samburu and the Turkana, nomadic people who inhibit plains and semi desert areas from the from Southern to Northern Kenya. Kalenjin Similar to the Nilo Hamitic, the major tribes are the Kipsigis, Nandi and Tugen from the Central Rift Valley. Hamitic The major tribes are the Somali, Boran, and Rendile who tend cattle and camels in Northern Kenya.

Traditional Musical instruments

All these are used by the Bomas - Harambee Dancers;

• The Nzumari – Digo flute
• The Luo horn – made from the Kudu antelope horn
• The Thumbi Nyatiti – an eight string Luo harp
• Eshiriri – a Luhya violin
• Kayamba – Giriama rattles.
• Chapao – a small two-sided Digo hand drum
• Bumbumbu – a three legged Giriama drum
• Chivoti – a Mijikenda flute
• Musondo – a Giriama solo long drum leant at an angle

Bomas of Kenya facilities

• Conference Center: Two large separate halls accommodating upto 2,500 and 3,000 pax respectively and a mini hall for 300 pax ideal for parties, wedding receptions, conferences, Seminars etc.
• Across section of different Kenyan traditional dances, songs, traditional villages and acrobatic team.
• Traditional Dancers are available for hire to entertain both locally and internationally.
• Restaurants serving all types of meals.
• Picnic sites.
• Children’s Modern playground
• A secure car park for over 3,000 cars.
• Outdoor football and volleyball, tag of war etc.
• Indoor volleyball, badminton, table tennis, scrabble, darts, facilities of international standards.
• Wonderful scenes of filming sites(locations)
• Upcoming nature trail excursions and camping sites.