Step into the Melodic Realm of Wana Mziki Afrika: Where Tradition Sings and Cultures Unite
Wana Mziki Afrika: Beyond Music, a Reverence for African Heritage, Where Each Melody Speaks Volumes About the Enduring Traditions and Stories of Our Ancestors.
About us:
WANA MZIKI AFRIKA is a powerful Folklore group of dancers acting as cultural ambassadors for more than
42 native ethnic groups of Kenya. Formed in 2004 in Kenya’s capital city, Nairobi, Wana mziki aims to nature
talents promote and exhibit the rich art of Kenyan folklore through song and dance. The practice of using folk
music and dance as a medium of social, cultural and spiritual expression is a resonant theme in African cultural
traditions and abundant in wana mziki performances.
WANA MZIKI dances reveal the strong narrative history involved in the practice of African folklore and
dance. The group’s dances represent marriage, birth, initiation ceremonies, harvest, war, religious festival and
death. This tradition finds its root in the role of the tribal hunters as they related stories of hunting to their
community via song and dance. This practice can be found in all facets of Kenyan life, revealing the history,
religion, and social customs of the nation’s multiple ethnic communities.
WANA MZIKI songs and dances’ are testament to Kenya’s wide range of regional and ethnic
communities, using dances such as the Isukuti from the Luhya community in the western part of Kenya, to the
Kilumi of Kamba community in Kenya’s east.
A dance such as the Maasai represents equally important events in the Kenyan community including
coming of age ceremonies for tribal warriors – Known as Eunoto in Maasai community – and simple day to
day activities. The dance can be performed in multiple variations from its jumping dance form, as seen during
Eunoto, to a visual representation of the flirting between young men and women. Accompanying such dancesis the ever-present pulsating rhythms of drums – composed of anything from scrap metal to gourds – and songs
organized around a call and response system.
While our dances are performed by us as a single group, we are representative of Kenya’s collection of
ethnic communities that range from the Maasai, Luo and Luhya, to the Kikuyu and Giriama tribes. Gaining
exposure and praise from our participation in multiple folk festivals throughout Kenya Asia and Europe,
Chelepe Africa dances bring to life the rich cultural communities of Kenya.
Kenyan music, dances and songs as embodied in the entire concept of African culture, is cherished,
treasured and a source of pride for Kenyan people everywhere, which could help to identify the Kenyan and
champion his dignity.
Instruments
The instruments used to produce the pulsating rhythms that accompany the dances also come from
different communities within the over 42 ethnic communities. These instruments includes the Kigamba by
the kikuyu community, Nyatiti an eight stringed instrument and Orutu a one string instrument, Ohangala drums
and Mier bul 8 drums from the Luo community, Mabumbumbu, Mchirima and Msondo drums from the
Giriama and Digo communities just to mention but a few.
Costumes
All Kenyan dances come with different costumes depending with the dance and the occasion. These
dances are colored with costumes from respective communities, which are made from different materials
ranging from Sisals, animal Skins and normal cloth materials.In the 17 years of existence, WANA MZIKI has participated in many folklore festivals and youth
projects both locally and internationally.
Perfomances
Local Acts
2005 aug—perfmomed at the carnivore during the East Africa Reggae concert
2005 aug—perfomed at Ngong catholic church Bulbul during the commemoration of the late
father Kaiser.
2005 sept—perfomed at the purple images festival at uhuru park dubbed Jukua La
Umaskini.
2005 sept—staged a show at Agricultural show of Kenya at the National Aids Control
Council stand.
2005 Nov—perfomed at the Hilton Hotel during the Miss Koch dinner show.
2005 Dec—Perfomed at the World Aids Day at the KICC.
2010 sep—performed at the kiriri womens university of science and technology graduation
ceremony.
2010 oct—staged a show at Agricultural show of Kenya at the Kenya commercial bank
stand
2011 – staged a show at Agricultural show of Kenya at the Kenya commercial bank stand
and Family Bank
2012 – Kenya tax payers week at KICC Nairobi
2013 – African Child Day – theme- Nipe Nafasi. At Safari park hotel Nairobi
International
2005—san diego theme park in the USA.
2005—Cultural festival in the republic of CHINA.
2006—Dubai shopping festival in the UAE..
2008—Dubai shopping festival in the UAE.
2009—Circus theatre in the Pakistan republic.
2009—Taiwan Leofoo village theme park.
2009—Dubai shopping festival UAE.
2010—Taiwan Leofoo resort hotel and theme park.
2010—Exchange program at Hulebak gymsium Sweden
2011—folklore festival in Latina Italy
2012—freebog folkore festival Switzerland
2013—PIKKELING festival Belgium
2014—Taiwan performing in leofoo village
2015 —Kenyan night at Uganda Kampala
2016—-folkore festival in sardenia italy
2017—-sauti za busara Zanzibar
2023——-Culturas Populares Santiago de Cali Colombia