Malindi District Cultural Association, MADCA....

Sada Mwarandu

Malindi District Cultural Association (MADCA) was started on the 3^rd August 2003. Madca was started with the main objective of reviving culture and cultural activities among the Mijikenda Community. It came to life after the founders of this organization realized that there was a fast deprivation of the Mijikenda culture due to the influence of foreign cultures and religion in the Coastal Region among the Mijikenda people. This association has gone a step further to trace the history of the Mijikenda and to highlight and promote the Mijikenda culture to other communities.

Some MADCA Members

In 2004 MADCA managed to start a cultural festival (Mekatilili Wa Menza Cultural festival at Bungale) to honor the heroin of the Mijikenda community called Mekatilili Wa Menza.This cultural festival was followed by the official launching of The Kiuyeuye Movement in 2005 at Magarini chiefs camp (Kilifi County) where this launch brought together the entire cultural activist among the Mijikenda community.

                                 

In the year 2006 Madca established cultural centers starting with Bungale (Kilifi County) the burial site of Mekatilili Wa Menza, Magarini cultural center, Mekatilili Wa Menza cultural resource center, Kaloleni (Mepoho Site), Rabai, Mwijo, Hadu and Gabina (Mrima Wa Ndege) all found in Kilifi county. The main reason of establishing these cultural centers was to help the circulation of information among the community from its headquarters that is Mekatilili Wa Menza Menza Cultural Resource Center. All this time, MADCA has been able to collect vital information about the Mijikenda including the history and the bringing back to life the Mijikenda cultural activities. 

Mzee Katana Kalulu showing Vigango

You can find activities concerning the Mijikenda ceremonies which include birth, naming, age group knowledge and marriage without leaving behind the literature part of the Mijikenda which include songs, dances, poems and storytelling.

Story by Sada Mwarandu.

Presented by : Doris Kamuye – Librarian, Webb Memorial Library

Malindi Museum