Coastal Flavours and Beats

At Angama, we live by the mantra that diversity isn’t just something to recognise — it’s something to celebrate. Kenya is home to at least 42 different ethnic groups, each with its own unique traditions, languages, and cuisines. In 2020, Cultural Nights were introduced to help the team learn about each other's heritage. This is a dedicated evening for team members from a specific region to share and showcase their culture and traditions, complete with traditional dress and food.

The most recent Cultural Night in Amboseli was dedicated to the coastal traditions of Kenya. I was especially excited because, as someone from the coast, it felt like I was bringing a piece of home to Amboseli.

The dress code was coastal attire, of course, which was a change for most people, as many of my teammates are from the vast inland landscape. The ladies looked beautiful in their Dera (a traditional Swahili dress), and the men wore kanzus, which is what Muslim men in coastal communities wear. Seeing everyone embrace the theme was great — it set the perfect tone for the night.

Naturally, the food was a big part of the celebration. We started with spiced coffee for afternoon tea, but dinner was the real showstopper. Lobster, octopus, prawns, coconut rice, and chapatis filled the table — a true coastal feast. Seeing everyone enjoying these dishes made me proud, it felt like everyone was joining me for dinner in my home.

Some of the team members even tried octopus for the first time. Let us just say it was a bit of a challenge for them (a few said it looked like a snake), but they gave it a go with good humour.

As the music started (Taarab set the mood with its soulful melodies, and then Bango brought an upbeat, joyful energy that got everyone moving), the dance floor buzzed with excitement, and even some of the Maasai team joined in – a moment that truly brought us together.

What made the night even more memorable was how involved the guests were. They didn’t just sit back — they jumped into the dancing and mingled with the coastal dancers we’d brought in for the event. Seeing them having as much fun as we were elevated the evening.

By the end of the night, I couldn’t have been prouder of where I come from. Sharing my culture with my colleagues and the guests meant so much to me. Overall, the evening was a huge success, and I’m already looking forward to the next one – I wonder where in Kenya we will go next…