Choir protects indigenous seeds in Nakuru areaCEFR B2
10 May 2025
Adapted from Minority Africa, Global Voices • CC BY 3.0
Photo by Lisah Malika, Unsplash
Makongo Village, on the outskirts of Nakuru city, faces severe heat and drought. In response, local farmers and activists formed the Eden Indigenous Seed Farm Choir to defend seed sovereignty and protect indigenous crops. The choir was founded by Francis Ngiri, a 60-year-old agroecologist, who began weekly rehearsals at his home after he realised in 2024 that many indigenous seeds were disappearing. Two long-standing members are Lucia Wambui Kuria, 81, and Rose Wanjiru, 54, and Grace Rosa Wanjiru is another founding member who has performed at public events and attended training workshops.
The choir has recorded six songs in Swahili and Kikuyu and received studio support from Seed Savers Network Kenya, which paid KSH 150,000 for costs in Nakuru city. It also created the Eden Seed Bank, which stores 144 indigenous seed varieties. Seeds are stored short-term in water-tight bottles, while some, such as maize, are smoked or mixed with ashes for long-term storage. All received seeds are sorted, coded, moisture-tested and given a germination test; only seeds that achieve 80 percent growth are kept, then stored with ashes or silica gel.
On Ngiri’s 10-acre farm different plots hold many varieties, including 15 types of indigenous sweet potatoes. He is experimenting by hybridising githigo (yellow maize) with a red-combed variety to develop a fast-growing, beta carotene–rich strain. The choir stresses that indigenous seeds are more resilient to drought, pests and disease. Agriculture contributes 30 percent of Kenya’s GDP and 80 percent of employment; research shows 80 percent of smallholder farmers rely on informal seed systems and an estimated 90 percent of seeds planted come from those systems. The choir hopes its songs will inspire farmers, pressure the government over the Seeds and Plant Varieties Act, and lead to regional collaboration despite funding and promotion challenges.
- Viazi Vitamu (Sweet Potatoes)
- Mbegu Cia Tene (Indigenous Seeds)
- Uongozi wa Wamama (Women and Leadership)
Difficult words
- indigenous — native to a particular place or region
- agroecologist — a scientist who studies farming and ecology
- germination — process when a seed begins to grow
- hybridise — to cross two plant varieties to combine traitshybridising
- seed sovereignty — right of communities to control their seeds
- seed bank — a place where many seed types are stored
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- How could singing and music help protect and spread knowledge of indigenous seeds in farming communities? Give examples.
- The article mentions funding and promotion challenges. What practical steps could the choir take to overcome these problems?
- Seed banks use different storage methods. What are the benefits and limitations of short-term storage in water-tight bottles versus long-term methods like smoking or using ashes?
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