Baobabs - Ecological, Economic and Cultural Anchors
Find out why baobab trees are spatial and cultural anchors of the Swahili coast
Baobab 4 (2021) by Ian Kathurima Kinyua, SwiftLabOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Multi functional
Throughout history, baobab trees served the inhabitants of the Swahili coast in multiple ways. For centuries its pulp and seeds have been a vital source of vitamin C for coast dwellers. Seed pulp is sold in shops and on the streets as snacks, often coloured in festive colours.
Leaves of young baobab trees are eaten as vegetables and used as medicine. Baobab trees were also used as hiding places for people when they felt threatened and in more peaceful times life has been landscaped around them.
Listening to the Baobab 6 (2021) by Ian Kathurima Kinyua, SwiftLabOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
For these reasons a baobab tree has been selected
... by the "Listening to the Rift Valley” project for scientific measurements, codification, and artistic interpretation of the information collected. A baobab tree on Manda Island has been outfitted with sensors and the captured signals have been color coded.
Khangas
The color coding was then represented through khangas, a traditional Eastern African cloth. “The message” sent by the baobab tree has been enacted as a dance performed by the students of the Anidan Centre for Children.
Baobab tree (ecological, economic and cultural value) 5 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Baobab - the superfood plant
The fruit of baobab trees contains seed and pulp rich in vitamin C. The seed pods are packaged and widely sold in shops and on the streets as candies and snacks.
Baobab tree (ecological, economic and cultural value) 7 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
A magnificent baobab tree of the Manda island
Thousand years old baobab trees of the Lamu Archipelago are of great practical, nutritional, cultural, and spiritual value for the peoples of the Swahili coast. They became an inspiration and participants of the "Listening to the Rift Valley" project of EAMAN.
Baobab tree (ecological, economic and cultural value) 6 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
If only this trunk could talk!
Baobab trees were used as hiding places for whole families when people felt threatened. Elephants use baobab trunks in the dry season to extract moisture. A baobab tree can hold up to 10 000 litres of water.
Baobab tree (ecological, economic and cultural value) 1 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Baobab the healer
Coastal communities have used the leaves of young baobab trees as vegetables, as well as for their medicinal properties to alleviate colds and as an antiperspirant.
Baobab tree (ecological, economic and cultural value) 10 (2021) by Olga Kisseleva, James Mweu, and James MuriukiOriginal Source: https://eaman.org/
Baobab the inspiration
Baobab trees have been a source of inspiration for many artists and fruit pods have been used to make art.
Listening to a baobab
A young baobab tree equipped with measurement instruments, EAMAN, "Listening to the Rift Valley" project.
Baobabs - Ecological, Economic and Cultural Value (2021)
Author: Olga Kisseleva and James Muriuki
Photographer: Ian Kathurima Kinyua (SwiftLab), James Muriuki, Margaret Ngigi
Video editing: James Muriuki, Emmaus Kimani, Federico Debetto
Curator: James Muriuki
Project & Technical Coordinator: Emmaus Kimani
Project Director: Maria Amelina
Commissioned, co-created and co-produced by EAMAN
Participation of Dr. Kassam, the Peponi Hotel and Anidan Centre, Lamu are gratefully acknowledged.
Listening to The Rift Valley Project: https://eaman.org
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