Val High School’s Market and Museum Visits in Kisumu

Val High School students embarked on multiple vibrant journeys through Kisumu and Nairobi immersing themselves in the region’s rich culture and history on various occasions.

On one of their visits, they started their adventure at the Kisumu Museum, where they delved into the fascinating world of local tribal artifacts and learned about the diverse cultural practices that shape the region’s history. This museum visit was a captivating exploration of Kenya’s cultural landscape, offering students a glimpse into the traditions and histories of the local communities.

The museum, located along the Kisumu-Kericho highway within Milimani Estate, was opened to the public in 1980. It stores and disseminates information on cultural and scientific issues with emphasis on Western Kenya. Exhibits include a fish aquarium, a snake park, a cultural history gallery, and a traditional homestead. The museum also provides educational services to schools from the lake region and beyond and participates in multinational research activities on limnology of Lake Victoria. The museum compound, built on a ten-acre piece of land, is one of the few green areas available in Kisumu city for the enjoyment of locals and visitors alike.

Experiencing the Vibrant Kibuye Market

On another occasion, the students ventured into the bustling Kibuye Market, one of the largest open-air markets in East Africa. Located in Kisumu, Kibuye Market holds great significance to the regional economy around Lake Victoria on the Kenya-Uganda border. The market is an important center for trade and a useful example of the African marketplace’s effect on the daily lives of Kenyans and the domestic economy.

At Kibuye Market, students got to see how a local market operates, with different vendors offering goods and services ranging from thrift clothes, furniture, shoes, metal works, hair salons, and carpentry. The market provided an excellent example of indigenous capitalism’s contribution to Kenya’s gross domestic product and the socio-economic importance of open-air markets in African society. This immersive experience allowed students to practice their negotiation skills, sample local foods, and understand the vibrant economy that plays a crucial role in the community’s daily life.

Shopping at Maasai Market Nairobi:

The students also had the opportunity to visit the vibrant Maasai Market in Nairobi, renowned for being the best place to shop for affordable, beautiful, and colorful souvenirs. This open-air market offers a large variety of products, including African pots and pans, clothes, shoes, jewelry, and bags. Travelers can find paintings, drawings, curios, clothes, fabrics with East African prints, handmade jewelry, and wood carvings.

The market is a true festival of color and form, with over a hundred traders enticing customers with their unique goods. The thrill of bargaining and negotiating for discounts provided an exciting and educational experience, helping students hone their negotiation skills, including preparation and planning, clarifications and justification for prices, bargaining, problem-solving, and final price closure. This market visit was not just a shopping excursion but a valuable cultural exchange that highlighted the economic vitality and creativity of the local communities.

These various visits provided students with a deeper understanding of Kisumu’s cultural and economic dynamics. They saw firsthand how local traditions and market activities contribute to the community’s identity and economy, enriching their global perspective and cultural awareness. At the museum, students explored exhibits showcasing information about local tribes, their history, tools, customs, clothing, and a section dedicated to the rich diversity of local animals and wildlife.

The vibrant Maasai Market proudly displayed colorful products, ranging from exquisite jewelry to stylish shoes and bags, offering Val High School students a glimpse into Kenya’s vibrant artisanal scene. These market visits were not just shopping excursions but valuable cultural exchanges that highlighted the economic vitality and creativity of the local communities.

Eager to explore more about cultural heritage and community life? Learn how you can be part of our educational initiatives and discover more about our programs at Jumbo Fish Farm!