I got this from http://www.yale.edu/ynhti/curriculum/units/2000/5/00.05.07.x.html. You can click on the link for more information on other areas.

Music And Cultural Events
In Kenya, song is the characteristic musical expression. It plays a very important part in the lives of the people. Children learn to sing as soon as they can talk and they continue to sing throughout life. Their music is religious and secular. Religious music is centered around religious festivals such as the Prophet’s birthday, Ramadhan or Id-ul-fitr. That is when long poems ( tenzi or tendi) are narrated and religious songs are sung. Folk songs include courtship and marriage songs, war, death and funeral songs, field work songs and songs sung while canoeing, praise songs and songs of scorn, grazing songs and songs for water animals, songs praying for rain to fall or for floods to end, drinking songs, songs for children, songs particular to different seasons and occasions. During important ceremonies music and dance are inseparable.
Births When a baby is born women say: ‘Njahi ni njuku, ukai tukoone mugeni’. This means, you are invited to a peas party, so come and see the visitor. This message is joined by songs and chants related to the occasion from relatives and close friend bearing gifts.

Circumcision

Circumcision is a civic and religious rite. There are several different stages for this.


Mumburo

About for months before the initiation period boys only sing and dance the mumburo. This dance is a pushing contest with boys from other villages. They have long strips of wood tied to their arms. Some are hurt and cowards run away. During this dance the leader sings and the group responds.


Muthuu

Sometime before the circumcision boys sing to the old folks to show that they are ready.


Irua

Two weeks before circumcision there are songs and dances for boys and girls, while the adults watch. Boys that are to be circumcised visit their friends and sing and dance. This continues until one and a half days before the circumcision day.

During preparation for girls, there is singing along with whistles blown by women and the dance continues the night before. Drinking also happens at this time.


Thaage

The song that is sung when the women come to prepare the food and no men are allowed.


Urigu wa airitu

Singing this song meaning the uncircumcised state of the girls women sing wearing leg rattles.


Matuumo

Before dawn, the day of circumcision, songs and dances continue the whole day.


Nguro

This is song by boys and adult males if they care to join in. This is song during the eight day period to the initiates as they are being fed soup to regain strength.


Waine

For period of three months these boys do not do any work. Instead they spend most of their time going from place to place singing their initiation song.


Kibaata

Young men who were circumcised a year ago, present themselves for battle with singing and dancing.

Manhood


Gicukia

This dance is for both sexes, young men form a circle and girls stand in a smaller inner circle facing them. The boys perform their dancing skills.


Mugoiyoo

This dance is also for boys and girls, and is performed at night by the firelight, during the months of July and August. Any dancer who does not perform correctly is touched with a live torch.

____ Harvest


Mucung’wa

Boys and girls participate. It consist of a series of dance songs that carry the same feelings. They dance in two lines facing each other. Boys wear leg rattles.


Njukia

This is the last dance after the mucung’wa. It is more like a finale and after it, people start leaving.

Weddings


Mwaguna

A women’s dance performed after a wedding has taken place. After the marriage and the couple is at the home of the husband. Two trays are put in front of them where gifts are put, usually money. The middle and old age women come with all their bodies covered in leaves, and they start to sing and dance.