Folklore and Environmental Conservation among the Swahili and Luhya of Kenya

Abstract

Environmental degradation is a major concern in Kenya and the world at large. Global warming is one of the major consequences of environmental degradation that is affecting human beings and animals in a major way. Presently many lakes and rivers in Kenya are polluted and also drying up and in the process endangering lives of human beings and animals. Several wildlife are emigrating from the national parks causing unwanted human/wildlife conflict. The movement of the animals also kills tourism which is one of Kenya's main foreign exchange earners. The invasion of the Mau Forest by local communities has destroyed the forest causing rain shortage which has in turn attracted drought. As a result of this, many human beings and animals have died. Ethnic clashes in Kenya have been fought over the natural resources of the Mau Forest, which have seen the forest and its environment destroyed.

The question we ask is ‘Why was environmental degradation not an issue in Kenya in the past? Is it possible that Kenyans have relegated their environmental responsibilities unlike in the past when they considered taking care of the environment their individual and joint responsibilities? This paper explicates how folklore, as a communal counsel, was used to conserve the environment by teaching the community from their youth the importance of the environment. Songs, stories, proverbs and riddles emphasized the importance of conserving the environment, as a way of protecting the people against such problems. This study explores Luhya and Swahili proverbs to establish the role of environmental conservation or destruction portrayed in it so as to chart the way forward in educating people on the way forward.