Page 25 - Msingi Afrika Magazine Issue 27 Final
P. 25
Community
Kaya Kinondo Sacred to have any form of sexual
Forest While explaining the history or romantic activity within
Very recently my family and of the forest and the various the forest, not even hugging,
I went for a walk in the Kaya rules that guide the entry and but you are allowed to hug
Kinondo Sacred Forest. It walk in the forest, Hamza the trees. You cannot litter
was a walk we had wanted made mention of something the forest with plastics or any
to do since we moved to the that caught my attention. other form of litter. You are
coast of Kenya, so it was He spoke about how the not allowed to destroy any
exciting to finally have the Digo tribe, under whose plant, or intentionally step on
chance to do so. So, when guardianship the Kaya insects or creatures crawling
Hamza - our friend and tour Kinondo Sacred Forest is around the forest, and you
guide for the sacred forest - preserved, use their culture must only go inside with a
asked us to go for the walk, to preserve the forest, and the tour guide from the local
it was a welcome idea. And forest - in turn - helps them tribe.
being that we love to tell preserve the Digo culture.
the African story with every For me, that made a whole So, we went inside the forest
chance that we have, we lot of sense, especially with and the feeling of awe that
decided to make a video of all the stories of the ‘climate nature inspires was present
the walk. crisis’ going on globally. and you could feel it for
real. The small singing birds
Due to the sacredness of making their melodies, the
the Kaya Kinondo Forest to hornbill birds making their
the Digo tribe, simple but deep-throated sounds like the
effective ground rules were tenor sax in an orchestra, the
set in place for those who massive trees, some as old as
enter the forest to walk or six hundred years, the root
learn about the trees within connections between trees of
it. For instance, you are not various species which even
allowed to wear a cap, hat, looked like they are holding
or hijab inside the forest. hands, the huge bio-diversity
The Digo tribe sees the of plant and animal life, a
uncovering of the head in pack of baboons trailing
the forest as a sign of respect behind us in fascination as we
for their ancestors, some walked and then, of course,
of whom are buried within the little hut that Hamza
it. You are not allowed to called “the house of the small
answer the call of nature god”. It was a beautiful blend
(pee or poop) within the of culture, spirituality, and
forest. You are not allowed nature conservation. And
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