The forests of Kaya of Mijikenda people

Unesco's Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization recognized the Mijikenda Kaya forests in Kenya as World Cultural Heritage in 2008.

Mijikenda Kaya forests in Kenya

The Mijikenda Kaya forests include 11 separate areas spread over an area of ​​up to 200 km along the coast in Kenya. The forests of this Kaya are planted by the Mijikenda trees, creating forests since the 16th century to serve as their food and life needs.

These 11 separate forests have been flourishing for many centuries, but by 1940 they began to be abandoned and turned into untouched wild forests. However, not long after, the Mijikenda ethnic group continued to maintain their life and develop these forests as a sacred place to worship and remember their ancestors . The reason is because there are graveyards of Mijikenda people in the forest. The forests of Kaya are an important proof of the cultural tradition with the continuation of the Mijikenda.

Spread over an area of ​​more than 200 km, Kaya forests cover an area of ​​30 to 300 hectares, mainly of low hills and mountains, with trees that live in coastal climate environments.

According to Mijikenda who now recounted, Mijikenda people originated from Singwaya , then they migrated north and stopped at the land that is now Kaya forests. The A-Digo race is the first race to leave the homeland of Singwaya, followed by A-Ribe, A-Giriama, A-Jabana, A-Chonv, A-Kambe. These ethnic groups bring rituals, and their traditions to new settlements, this creates the diversity of Mijikenda's culture. The place that is now Kaya forests has an ideal location, rich land, besides living along the coast helps people have food from the sea, so in the 16th century there were many ethnic groups. immigrants come here. Initially, these emigrants were divided into two founding groups, Kaya Kinondo and Kaya Kwale . In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a secondary founding group continued to be established. Until the middle of the 17th century, these ethnic groups really merged and formed Mijikenda. And also from there kaya forests began to develop according to the general planning, standardization of Mijikenda people.

Although there is no official record of what Mijikenda people formed the first Kaya forest in the year, historians say the first Kaya forest was established in 1560. Since then, in turn Kaya forest was established, the last forest was established in 1870. Until the early 1900s, the pressure of population growth, internal conflicts among Kaya forests was gradually abandoned. Currently, these forests are planted by the Mijikenda, well cared for and preserved and used as cemeteries and sacred places of worship.

According to Portuguese documents, the Mijikenda tribe settled along the beach and formed the forests of Kaya in the 17th century but since then there have been many ethnic groups migrating to live there. In the 17th-18th century, this coastal area also welcomed many merchant ships from other countries to trade. The Portuguese came here to buy local produce to trade a lot, so they had documents about the Mijikenda.

The forests of Kaya of the Mijikenda are recognized by the Unesco Organization as a World Cultural Heritage by criteria (iii), (v), (vi).

Criterion (iii): Kaya forests are places where Mijikenda religious rituals are practiced. These forests are also home to the ancestors and sacred land of the Mijikenda.

Criterion (v): Since being abandoned and not being used as a place of residence, Kaya forests have been transformed by Mijikenda from a forest area with beautiful natural landscapes to sacred places with spiritual values ​​of the nation.

Criterion (vi): The forests of Kaya are where Mijikenda treats and worship their ancestors. Besides, this place is also a proof for a long-standing culture that has been inherited through many generations.