Bomas of Kenya.
Bomas of Kenya is a cultural center at Langata, near the main gate to Nairobi National Park. Experience the rich diversity of Kenyan traditional music and dance in a daily cultural performances, which is often scheduled here on a daily basis, as is a way to get a great treat and taste of how the Kenyan culture feels like. The culture is portrayed here through music and dance as you are free to join the dance, or the seat has a glass of beer as you knock your head watch the group does their performance.
The Bomas Harambee Dancers are the country’s national dance company par excellence, proudly representing the beauty and diversity of Kenya’s music and dance traditions since 1973. Local and international visitors can experience the delightful sounds and movements of Kenya in daily cultural performances and/or add a note of culture to their events by hiring the dance troupe for outside performance.
A visit here is the best way to kill your afternoon vibe in Kenya, as you’re taken aback, with great sounds, and beautiful melodies from the real African vibe instruments, as you enjoy the live vibes and country music.
The rich History of Harambee Dancers
The Bomas Harambee Dancers resident dance troupe was founded in 1973 and named in honor of the First President’s call for unity and cooperation in building the Kenyan Nation. Four decades later, the troupe is still active and its mission to preserve music and dance traditions of various ethnic communities of Kenya and to showcase them in the international arena still remains relevant. Apart from regular daily performances at the Bomas center (Lang’ata Rd, Nairobi), Bomas Harambee Dancers frequently perform in both cultural and cooperate events, takes part in national celebrations and maintain the roots of cultural tourism development in the tourism industry. The troupe has thus traveled and performed all over the world at various forums, proudly representing Kenya as its national dance company.
The Daily Show
Experience the rich diversity of Kenyan traditional music and dance in daily cultural
performances. The repertoire consists of over 50 dances from different ethnic communities. With live percussion, string and wind instruments, and diverse, authentic, and energetic dancing, Bomas Harambee Dancers will take you on a journey through Kenya’s past and present.
From Western Kenya and the shores of Lake Victoria (Nyanza) through Rift Valley, Central, and Eastern Kenya to North-eastern and Coastal Kenya, our daily shows display an array of diverse musical and dance traditions.
Some of the dances you can experience include the impressive Maasai Eunoto dance, the Kikuyu Circumcision dance, the spectacular Chuka drummers, Coastal Sengenya and Gonda dances, Swahili Taarab, NubiDholuka dance, and many more.
From Thursday to Sunday, the daily shows also feature the fabulous Mambo Jambo acrobats, who showcase the best of acrobatics, including balancing, rope skipping, juggling, fire limbo, etc.
Schedule of Performances
Monday to Friday: 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Weekends and Public Holidays: 3:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Other attractions here.
Cultural Artifacts
Bomas of Kenya also collects and preserves cultural artifacts from various communities of their country. Their rich and diverse catalog covers all regions and communities of Kenya and ranges from everyday use artifacts (such as e.g. stools, food and beverage containers) to artifacts reserved for special ceremonies (e.g. traditional circumcision knives, ritual masks, etc.).
These artifacts can be viewed at our Gallery space and are mostly used for educational and exhibition purposes.
Research & Library
The Book library and the multimedia center was established with the mission of disseminating research findings and assisting students, teachers, and researchers in accessing information on cultural music, dances, and practices from various ethnic communities of Kenya.
The library’s catalog consists of research reports and findings, books, periodicals, and audio, photo and video materials from conducted research missions, cultural festivals and performances.
Their library and multimedia center is open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (closed on weekends and public holidays).
Conditions of use: For all external users, access to the Book library must be approved by the Management. Kindly equip yourself with an introduction letter from the institution of your affiliation (university, research institute) detailing the scope and purpose of your research. You will also be required to produce a copy of your national identification card (ID) or a corresponding foreign document. Note that certain materials may be loaned, while others are available for consultation within library premises only. For the reproduction of materials, copyright laws apply.