THE INAUGURAL RISSEA INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE - PART 1

Yesterday, 31st August 2010 marked the deadline for the final call for papers for the Inaugural RISSEA International Scientific Conference with the theme - 'Swahili Research and Development in Eastern Africa' scheduled to be held from 18th - 20th November 2010 in Mombasa. The conference aims to bring together leading researchers, students, teachers and all other Swahili researchers for the three day conference in November 2010.

Lamu Island

Given that, RISSEA is a fully fledged directorate of the NMK charged with carrying out and coordinating basic and applied research on the Swahili Speaking people of the East Africa’s coast and its Diaspora. The conference aims to examine how Swahili research has impacted on development especially in the areas of:-

• The history and development of Swahili peoples including history and development of the people and their culture, Language, linguistics & Literature (oral and written) and Traditional and modern performances
• Swahili material culture including; Architecture & construction technologies, Scientific and technological innovations, Dress and aesthetics 

• Swahili indigenous knowledge and its impact on the environment including; Oceanography, Astronomy and Astrology, Agriculture, Traditional medical and spiritual Practices, Culinary arts  

Swahili Groom - Lamu museum exhibit

This in view of the fact the, The Institute appreciates that apart from inquiry into the Swahili peoples, the language, Kiswahili, has the potential to serve as a medium of economical, political, and social integration in the wider East African region hence the motivation to enhance inquiry and research into its structure, function and applicability. Indeed, the language has a role to play in the realization of Kenya’s Vision 2030 and other planning and policy strategies. The language is widely used for a variety of purposes including awareness creation and intervention in strategies at the grassroots hence it’s highly appreciated unifying role. As a result therefore, RISSEA Swahili research should be appreciated for its role in contribution to the development of the nation and region economically, culturally and ethically; and the enhancement of uncontested African identity.

Centenary Celebrations - Part 1

This year 2010, marks 100 years since the establishment of the first museum in Kenya. As part of part of these celebrations, RISSEA will be hosting 3 events which will also be a culmination of National Museums of Kenya’s centenary celebrations. The 3 - events are; The Inaugural RISSEA International Scientific Conference, RISSEA Mombasa Cultural Festival plus RISSEA Furniture and Furnishing Exhibition  and will be held as follows:-

• Inaugural RISSEA International Scientific Conference with the theme of “Swahili Research and Development in Eastern Africa” will take place from 18th to 20th November 2010 in Mombasa. The conference, with a target audience of 200+, aims to bring together leading Swahili international researchers, teachers and students from around the world for the 3 day conference to deliberate on how Swahili research has and continues to affect development of the East African Region.

• RISSEA Mombasa Cultural Festival with the theme “Culture as a Vehicle of East African Integration and Cohesion” will be held from 17th to 19th December 2010 at Mama Ngina Drive, Mombasa. This year’s festival which targets an audience of 75,000+ over the 3 day period, unlike previous festivals in Mombasa, Lamu and Malindi, will aim to highlight the role which culture can play in promoting the integration of the East African Communities by facilitating cultural interaction of not only Kenyan cultural groups but also from other East African countries. 

Last years Mombasa Cultural Festival

Football tournament during last years festivalF

• RISSEA Furniture and Furnishing Exhibition with the theme of “Economic Empowerment through Creative Cultural Industries” will be held from 10th to 12th December 2010 at Mama Ngina Drive, Mombasa. This inaugural event which targets an audience of 30,000+ aims to highlight the role of creative cultural industries as a vehicle of economic empowerment as a means of alleviating poverty within the communities in line with Vision 2030. The above sub-themes are in line with the overall National Museums of Kenya’s theme of celebration of 100 years which is “1910-2010-Celebrating a Century of Heritage Management”.

Furniture Exhibition during last years Cultural festival

The above events will be an ideal platform for all cadre of stakeholders, sponsors, exhibitors, participants to participate or create awareness about their culture, products and services taking the opportunity of the integration and free movement of labour within the East Africa Community after the coming into effect on July 1st 2010 or the relevant protocol. For more information on the above events visit: http://www.rissea.org/

SAFARI MARKET 2010

Safari Travel Market Exhibition held on 3rd to 6th July 2010 was an exhibition for not only holiday products and services but also other aspects home furnishing all brought together under one roof.

Wood work products on display at Safari Village Market exhibition, Nairobi

RISEA was lucky to be among the 55 exhibitors who manged to exhibit their products at the spacious Village Market, Nairobi. We enjoyed the three days of activity, where business contacts were made and the possibility of new growth areas explored.

RISSEA's  main objective was to provide unique Swahili furniture and embroidery items from the production unit to the visitors and exhibitors alike. It was also an opportunity to identify new markets and contacts, also learn new skills and development from others stakeholders.

Customer services being a key part of RISSEA's business, the Institute is thus proud to serve its clients with enjoyment and dignity. RISSEA's products can also be found at the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi Museums gallery and at RISSEA offices in Mombasa and Lamu.

MALINDI COMMUNITY RAISE UP TO 1ST MALINDI CULTURAL FESTIVAL

The Malindi Cultural Festival was held over three (3) days in the first week of April 2010, from 2nd - 4th of April 2010. The festival was implemented by an organizing committee comprising of staff drawn from NMK including RISSEA in partnership with the Malindi Community, Stakeholders and MDCA,

Traditional Mijikenda dance during the festival

The Festival which will be an annual event is meant to revive the disappearing cultural heritage values within the community which may be lost due to a variety of influences. It aims at revitalizing and reviving the cultural heritage as a way to instilling unity and harmony among the various communities living together in Malindi. It was seen as a way of providing a forum through which the different communities living in Malindi can come together to participate and showcase their different cultures and at the same time promote socio-economic activities linked to their cultural heritage.

The activities that took place during the festival included; performances of various traditional dances from different communities living in Malindi, Exhibitions of traditional handcraft and Khangas, traditional sports including the famous dhow race , Henna painting and designing, Displays of traditional food bazaar, live taarab music. There was also an intellectual session with the theme "the Role of Kiswahili in fostering National Cohesion and Intergration", which was sponsored and organized by RISSEA. 

Zefe dance from Malind

There was also a ladies night, displaying bridal attires form contemporary swahili bride and traditional Pate bride,  a khanga fashion show accompanied by traditional performances of 'vugo' and 'lelemama' organized and played by the women from Malinidi.

The festival activities were  held in various locations within Malindi. In front of the old D.O's building there was an exhibition area for the traditional handcrafts and the Khanga exhibition, while the the football pitch along the Malindi Museum was for dances and food bazaar.

Dhow race competitors at Malindi sea shore during the festival

SWAHILI ARTS AND CRAFT TRAINING

The Research Institute of Swahili Studies of Eastern Africa - RISSEA through the Swahili Cultural Centres in Mombasa and Lamu, is a famous training institution, that allow youths to undertake courses at certificate level, in traditional skills in  woodcarving, carpentry or joinery, dressmaking and traditional embroidery. Every year RISSEA advertises for the course intake to youth of both genders to enroll for the courses with the following requirements:

• The course duration is flexible and depends on ones ability but is not more than two years
• Should be a Kenya citizen preferably between the age of 16 to 25
• Should have completed primary school education or above

Dress-making class

Plans are underway to develop these courses by offering them to a Diploma level through a partnerships with other Institutions of higher learning. These courses were developed, due to the need to not only revive dying Swahili arts and Crafts but also serve to preserve and keep alive the rich treasure of Swahili culture that is to be found in the Old towns of Mombasa, Lamu, Zanzibar and other similar old towns.

A Swahili Pilipili bed

A BEFITTING CEREMONY FOR THE INAUGURAL RISSEA NEWSLETTER