FRIENDS BECOME FAMILY: THE FAMOUS KENYANS IN KSA UWANJANI GATHERING

They may be thousands of kilometers away from home but Kenyans working and living in Saudi Arabia always maintain social ties through various gatherings and social events.

Each Friday Kenyans in the Kingdom’s capital of Riyadh gather at the famous Siyah playgrounds where families and friends get a chance to meet up and have a chit-chat after a long work week in what is famously known as “Uwanjani” gathering. 

They also participate in entertaining football matches where the young showcase their skills and precision while the old get a chance to rekindle their different dribbling moves during their heydays.

                                     

Photo: Kenya ambassador to Saudi Arabia Amb. Peter Ogego joins Kenyans for iftar at the Uwanjani

This gathering is not only a social meet-up but also serves as a platform for many Kenyans to interact, exchange ideas and information’s, experiences ,education and knowledge sharing as well as form career-related networking and mingle with experts in different career fields.

With religion highly considered as pivotal and Kenyans are widely recognized as a society that view religion to be ‘very important’ in their life, this get-together also helps in spiritual uplifting through sermons by organized religious leaders.

Photo: Kenyans sharing a meal

     

Families also spend hours preparing different delicious Kenyan dishes, coffees and pastries including mahamris, bhajias, kaimati, samosas among other mouthwatering delicacies that are always served to those who gather at the playground. This also shows the culture and acts of authentic generosity and kindness that Kenyans are known for.

During the Holy Month of Ramadan, this get-together brings together not only Kenyans but different expats communities for beautiful iftar(breaking of fast) gatherings which is aimed at connecting those of different cultures and backgrounds, giving people an opportunity to experience the feeling of community and generosity that are abundantly displayed during the holy month  Ramadan.

Many Kenyans view the “Uwanjani” gatherings has played a vital role in keeping Kenyans informed about each other as well as help those in distress through various ways.  To them this gathering also helps the younger generation to interact with each other and form a long lasting bond of friendship and brotherhood.