Mombasa was abuzz with celebration on Sunday as residents and visitors flocked to the vibrant Wajomvu Cultural Festival in Jomvu Kuu village. The festival, steeped in heritage, showcased the unique traditions of the Wajomvu community, a Swahili sub-tribe found primarily along the coastline in Jomvu and Maunguja.
Renowned for their artistry in pottery and incense stick-making, Wajomvu women have passed down these crafts through generations. Their clay pots, celebrated for retaining heat, durability, and being user-friendly, were among the many highlights at the one-day festival. Attendees experienced a rich cultural immersion, featuring traditional Wajomvu houses, cuisines, attire, and crafts.
Call for a Wajomvu Cultural Centre
Jomvu MP and Wajomvu community patron Badi Twalib pledged to champion the establishment of a Wajomvu Cultural Centre to preserve and promote the community’s heritage. Twalib emphasized that such a facility would attract tourists and enhance the local economy.
“In the tourism circuit, visitors explore Fort Jesus, temples, and the Akamba Handicraft Centre. It’s only fitting to have a Wajomvu Cultural Centre to showcase our unique traditions and draw tourists,” said Twalib.
The MP proposed that the centre could modernize the pottery business, enabling artisans to access international markets while preserving traditional techniques. “We will lobby for modern equipment to support large-scale clay weaving, while maintaining the authenticity of traditional methods,” he assured.
Twalib also called for greater recognition of the minority Wajomvu community in government programs and thanked Governor Abdulswamad Nassir for integrating the festival into Mombasa County’s annual calendar of events.
“From now on, this festival will be hosted under the County Government’s banner,” he added.
The Wajomvu Craft Legacy
Mwanahawa Mohammed, a resident of Jomvu Kuu, shared the origins of the community’s pottery tradition. She recounted how two sisters, seeking to support their families, began making clay household items, a practice now central to the lives of many Wajomvu women.
“The pots provide us with a livelihood, meeting our basic needs. They are healthier for cooking compared to modern pots,” Mohammed noted. However, she lamented that younger generations are reluctant to continue the craft, favoring white-collar jobs over manual labor.
“They don’t want to get dirty. Only a few are following in our footsteps,” she said, urging the government to provide better market access and a facility to display their products.
Challenges for Traditional Mat Weavers
Saumu Mazari, a traditional mat weaver, voiced concerns over the dwindling supply of pliable reeds, essential for their craft. Urbanization has forced artisans to travel as far as Kwale County for materials, often at high costs.
“We face stiff competition from imported modern mats. We need better market opportunities for our traditional mats,” Mazari said.
Her fellow weaver, Mariam Kombo, noted the importance of passing down skills to the next generation. She praised the Competency-Based Curriculum for its emphasis on practical skills, which could inspire more youth to embrace traditional crafts.
Preserving Wajomvu Traditions
Festival attendees also learned about the unique cultural elements of a Wajomvu matrimonial bedroom. Zainab Badi described how the room is carefully arranged to foster love, featuring items like Kipepeo fans inscribed with Swahili sayings, traditional food covers, and oud fragrances.
“Married couples use Lesos, and the atmosphere is filled with traditional charm to strengthen the bond between husband and wife,” Badi explained.
With calls for better recognition, market access, and infrastructure, the Wajomvu community hopes to preserve its rich cultural heritage while adapting to modern challenges.
