International Women’s Day, observed annually on the 8th of March, holds profound significance as a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also serves as a call to action for accelerating gender parity and fostering a more inclusive and equitable world.
On this special day, indigenous women come together to recognize their remarkable resilience and delve into pressing issues pertaining to them, including land rights, climate change, indigenous women’s leadership, Economic empowerment and cultural identity preservation among others. These women face unique challenges stemming from historical injustices, insecurity issues, discrimination, and the marginalization of their communities.
In this year’s International Women’s Day celebration, Samburu Women’s Trust brought together Indigenous Women Council (IWC) participants drawn from pastoralists, fisherfolk, hunters and gatherers, youth, and grassroots champions to commemorate this day at Ilchamus Women’s Cultural Centre in Baringo County.
Under the theme ‘Invest in Women; Accelerate Progress,’ we were hosted by Baringo Women and Youth Organization (BWYO), who is a member of the IWC, to celebrate the preservation of indigenous culture, with a specific focus on cultural festivals role in peacebuilding and promoting communities’ cohesion and their significance in the global tapestry of cultural heritage.
We delve into the importance of indigenous culture, community engagement, preservation and revitalization efforts, and the necessity of respect and collaboration in celebrating and preserving indigenous culture. Moreover, the celebration provided an opportunity for linking and learning among indigenous women to showcase their products, artifacts, traditional food systems, medicine, and cultural heritage.
