Kenya Birthday Traditions and Initiation

by Odayen
(Kenya)

Odayen and Oniha's Kenyan birthday cakes

I am from Kenya and going to write about my country's birthday customs. I celebrated my birthday on the day when I got initiated to my community. Initiation is performed to help us learn the tribal songs, dances and also the laws, beliefs and customs.

We become initiated to our community at the age of 12.

My younger brother Oniha also got initiated on the same day, so we both celebrated our birthdays. I enjoyed a lot this birthday, it was filled with love and affection of my relatives. My Mother and Father are teachers among the tribal people. So all the tribes who are studying under my parents came to my birthday party.

Our birthday cakes were lovely! My mother got up early in the morning and prepared two cakes specially for our party. When I cut the cake, all guests clapped their hands and sang the 'evi edna' song for us. It is the song to celebrate birthdays.

Then we served cake to all the guests. Small children who attended kissed me and wished me "Happy Birthday." It made me very happy to get blessings from those children.

My father arranged a tribal dance for the party. The tribal members danced with fire and water. It was amazing! My brother and I joined and danced with them.

Grilled lamb and nyama choma were prepared for the feast, and we all ate happily. The children drew various paintings and gave them to me as gifts. And, my grandfather presented me the "Golden Key," a symbol of unlocking the educational lock.