Kenyan Culture Chat with Evelyn From The Internets

Meet Evelyn of Evelyn from the Internets. She is a Texas-based digital storyteller who makes funny videos on YouTube about culture, self-reflection, and observations about the world.

KK: Hi Evelyn, let’s get straight to it, shall we ━ would you please tell us about the biggest festival in Kenyan culture?

E FTI: I don’t know, actually :/ But I’ve always wanted to attend Blankets and Wine. I hear they have a festival now called African Nouveau Fest!

KK: **Started in 2008, Blankets and Wine is a picnic-style event in Nairobi to promote local artists. As stated in the name, the participants usually bring wine and a blanket to the monthly event.**

KK: You recently travelled to Kenya, do tell us what is the best travel souvenir to get from there?

E FTI: A Kiondo! It’s a woven bag that comes in different sizes, colours, and patterns.

KK: Indigenous to the Kikuyu tribe in Kenya, the Kiondo bag is a handwoven handbag made from plant fibres with leather trimmings. It reminds me of the Indonesian version of it called Tas Anyam, which dominates the Ubud Market in Bali.

KK: Also, what is the best street food one should try in Kenya?

E FTI: Samosas (fried or baked triangular-shaped pastry with savoury fillings), with a squeeze of lime juice before every bite 🙂

KK: What would you include in the package if you were to send your internet cousin the food of Kenyan culture?

E FTI: CHAPATI AND CHAI!

KK: Interesting! My very limited knowledge always thought that chapatti (unleavened flatbread) and chai belong to Indian culture, but apparently, they’re also part of Kenyan culture. I only learned about it last weekend when Ani Achola (one of the main characters in 13 Reasons Why Season 3) ate the chapati and tea prepared by her mother. Holler for a pop culture reference! I also learned that compared to Indian chai, the Kenyan version has more sugar and is made without adding masala.

KK: Sometimes you wear headwraps on your videos; does it have any significance in Kenyan culture?

E FTI: I don’t think modern headwraps have significance in Kikuyu culture – I wear them as a general Pan-African/Diaspora/Black people around the world type of trend or aesthetic.

KK: What is the one thing you really want people to know about Kenya?

E FTI: We got the best beaches!!

KK: Please tell us about black female Youtubers whose work you admire.

E FTI: Keeping in the theme, I gotta shout out some of my favourite Kenyan Youtubers, Nancie Mwai, Patricia Kihoro, Mandi Sarro, and Sheila Ndinda, just to name a few!

KK: Thank you so much, Evelyn, for participating in the culture chat and sharing some highlights on Kenyan culture here and on your Youtube channel. Keep shining, my internet cousin!

Do check out Evelyn, you guys. She is the best!