Luhya Elders have expressed great concern over what they termed as “extinction threat” to the community’s famed Isukuti dance, calling upon the youth to save it.
Despite receiving global recognition from United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), the cultural dance is under threat according to the elders.
While speaking on the side lines of a recent bullfight in Khayega, Fred Imboba, one of the elders, said the frequency of performance of the dance is diminishing.
“The rich heritage is no more. The elders who were good at it lack successors. Unavailability of the necessary materials, instruments and costumes for the dance are partly to blame,” said Imboba, while also blaming use of recorded music at live events.
Solomon Khayinga, yet another elder, lashed at youth for their preference for contemporary dances from Jamaica and other parts of the world to the fast paced traditional jig, which was always performed at festivals, ceremonies and sporting events.
“This was an integral tool for cultural transmission from one generation to another, but the youth don’t seem to care anymore and prefer bend-over and other foreign dances,” he said.
