Bull fighting - cultural tourism in Kenya

ABISAI SAMUEL
C01/1147/2009




Bull fighting; a potential cultural attraction that is in the verge of extinction in western Kenya.





This research is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of BA.Tourism, The University of Nairobi. February 25, 2011.
1. Introduction

Preamble
This research sought to identify the challenges facing bull fighting as part of tourist attraction sectors in Kenya and how the challenges could be addressed to reap maximum benefits from the same activity. As a neglected potential cultural sport in western Kenya, this research mainly compares it with the bull fighting in Spain where the sport is much appreciated and benefits the stakeholders.


Background information
Similar to bull fighting in Spain, which is focused back to 711.A.D during crowing of King Alfonso (Viii), in Kenya it is a culture that dates thousands of years ago in the Luhya community? Mr. Indeche (85 years) who is considered among elders of sigalagala community western Kenya reveals that this fascinating sport was practiced by his ancestors and was part and parcel of the community top sports.

Bull fighting in rural Kenya is much different from the bull fighting in spain in that Kenya’s bull fighting involves a fight between two bulls while the Spanish style is the madater who fights against the bull and even end up killing it. In Kenya it is also note worthy that the bulls are provoked by the crowd and lock horns in fierce battle to the cries and jeers of the luhya people.


Statement of the problem

In Kenya’s tourism sector, how bull fighting is under utilized and fought against is the main problem.
Justification
Bearing a big potential of boosting our economy, and enhancing our culture in the tourism line, this is a sport that needs to be optimally utilized.

Theoretical framework and literature review.
Due to scarcity books related to bull fighting in Kenya most the work in this research paper is based on online literature.

For example;

i. Buzzle com
Where the aspect of importance of culture has been stressed. For example culture has been painted with the following importance;

a. Culture gives a community on identity
b. It is a bond that lies people together
c. Is a system of social control?

This information is used in this research because bull fighting is part of luhya cultural practices.

ii. Spain – information. Com
The history of bull fighting has been outlined in this websites since the reign of King Alfonso the eight the process of how bull fighting is undertaken in Spain is widely noted.
This information has been employed in this research because to compare and contrast the development of this industry between Kenya and Spain.

iii. Article – base
This site has information of particular areas in Kenya where bull fighting is organized and the information was really helpful in coming up with a research site.

iv. Kenya society for the protection and care of Animals site.
Where information on protest against bull fighting in Kenya is clearly stipulated, major events have been criticized by this groups in turn dwindling bull fighting as a cultural sport. Other protests have been outlined in sites of (CAS international and also the Kenya Safari.com)

v. Kenya foundation guide
The guide has information on the first animal rights activists like Alan Dershowtz and Laurence Tribe. The meaning of animal rights has been clearly explained.

Hypothesis
To guide this research, several hypotheses were necessary.
The following hypothesis did guide the study:

i. Bull fighting is a potential cultural sport faced with growing bulk of challenges in western Kenya.
ii. Bull fighting is assumed as an outdated practice by both local people and foreigners
iii. There is minimal investment in the bull fighting sport in Kenya.
iv. If well utilized, bull fighting can generate maximum benefits to the luhya community and the country as a whole
v. Bull fighting in Spain is much far a head in terms of development than in Kenya.

Objectives
Without a set of objectives to aim at achieving this investigation, the study runs the risk of being fraught with aimlessness. To keep it in focus, there must be a number of central aims to target. The objectives to achieve in this investigation included;

i. To assess how bull fighting as a cultural sport is dwindling in terms of attraction and exposure.
ii. To explain how challenges facing the cultural sport can be alleviated to improve its productivity
iii. To increase the awareness of how bull fighting can enrich our culture and boost our tourism sectors/ industry.

Research design and methodology
The research takes and a qualitative approach observation interviews content analysis are widely used.

1). Observation.

A visit to Sigalagala in Western Kenya where this kind of practice is undertaken and watching the bulls fighting helped in compiling this research.
This type of methodology helped in analyzing the real environment into which the activity is undertaken: some of the cultural practices that really boosts this activity like the dressing code and other cultural activity undertaken before the fight like drinking a local brew were identified through this method.

2). Interviews
This research involved several people interviews both from the university of Nairobi and Sigalagala. Out of 10 university students only 2 were concerned and supported bull fighting as a cultural sport. An interview with Mr. Indeche from the Sigalagala community also helped in analyzing the history and importance of Bull fighting in the luhya community.

3). Content analysis
With limited literature available as far as bull fighting in Kenya is concerned most of the work in this research was derived from online database and websites.

4). Sampling
Sampling is technique used to gain information about a group of items from just a small section of that group.

A section of students interviewed have been used to represent the whole population within Kenya. An interview with Mr. Indeche represents an interview with the whole luhya community.

Research findings
The following pitfalls were realized according to this research as far as bullfighting is concerned in western Kenya:
A. Low investment in the sector
As compared to Spain where modern stadiums have been constructed, Kenya still has no more efficient grounds far bull fighting event. The activity is usually done in an open play ground like local primary and secondary schools play ground which dances which lead to lose of a lot of revenue the event is not paid by viewers who are mainly composed of domestic and foreign tourists.

Also the owners of the bulls still bet low value of money because of the poor living conditions in the area. A bull owner bets around ten thousands shillings in a match of which around 5 thousands will go to post victory celebration. This means that the owner of the bull that wins remains with little cans to sustain his/ her family and also feed the bull. In Spain more capital has been channeled into the same hence boosting the structures and interests of people in the same.


B. Protests from animal rights activists
Animals’ rights support the idea that animals should be treated with the same interest like those of human beings. This means that animals should not be used for entertainment (bull fighting), research subjects and foods. Scholars like Alan, Dershowtz and Lawrence Tribe from Harvard University have been backing up the legal animal rights. With animal law being taught in more than 110 out of 180 law schools in the united states bull fighting both in Kenya and Spain have been subjected to criticism that hinder its growth. Many tourists evade visiting western Kenya to watch bull fighting because they think it is inhuman. This has resulted in loss of a lot of income especially from foreigners.
A bull fighting event which could have attracted many tourists at moi sports center Kasarani was called off due to protests from animal rights activists’ .this was an event to market this cultural sport to foreign tourists.

C. It is devalued by’ literate’ members of the society
Some people especially the locals assume that this kind of cultural practice is for the primitive .it is rare even in the luhya community where the activity is practiced to get an ‘educated’ man participating in the same. The locals assume that bull fighting is for those who didn’t go to school. A good example is M.P Dr. Bonny Khalwale who has been constantly been criticized by others because of his indulgence in bull fighting.
The negative westernization syndrome has really hindered the growth of bull fighting as a cultural sport and this has led to reluctance in involvement as far as domestic tourism is concerned.Educated people make a large percentage of domestic tourists in Kenya.

D. Poor marketing strategies
Little effort has been put into force as far marketing bull fights concerned. Although some small tour companies are now including the event among the western Kenya tourism circuit, a lot has to be done in terms of marketing. Government involvement, especially in campaigning for the publicity of this sport can really boost it both internationally and locally.

E. Poor infrastructure
Poor infrastructure within the region also hinders the growth of bull fighting sport. For example Kakamega has a small – airstrip which cant allow a boom of tourist to flock the region in the name of watching the cultural sport. Kisumu – Kakamega highway is in a disastrous conditions yet it is the major highway that can link luhya land to Kisumu international airport. The poor infrastructure makes the region inaccessible hence the bull fighting sport can’t be fully tapped by both domestic and international tourists.

F. Frequency of major events
The curve of the occurrence of the bull fighting activities is not predictable currently, the fights depends on the ‘pockets’ of those who have invested in bulls. These means that if the investors don’t have cash the event cant take place. Some tourists may want to attend to the event yet the locals don’t have the money to bet before they host one. This implies that such a event may take place when the tourist is away hence losing the money that could have been spent in the same.
G. Investment preference

Most of the locals prefer investing in diary cattle than recruiting bulls for bull fighting. This is because of the unrealized potential in this sector. Stable structures which are un available in the bull fighting enterprise scare local investors. The benefits from bullfighting in the tourism line have not been realized.

H. Accident insurance
Due to law capital investment bull fighting lack is the accident insurance yet it is a sport that pose danger to the life of supporters of fans for example when one bull is beaten or unable to fight the other it usually runs away to defend itself. Sometimes it knocks fans while running away such accident doesn’t have insurance cover hence being challenge to that potential sector. Tourist would prefer to attend to an event where there safety is assured.

I. Political interference
Bull fighting most of the times has been used as an arena to mobilize political activities.
This is evident particularly during elections campaigns in western Kenya. Politicians invest a lot in the activity only when undertaking their campaigns this after that the elections they ditch the sector. This activity therefore becomes relevant during the elections, yet it is cultural activity that is supposed to be practiced regularly. a tourist will avoid visiting a place during political elections hence minimal revenue in the same at that period.


CONCLUSION
In this study, I investigated the factors that are trying to steer bull fighting to extinction in Kenya. Generally from the study, three major elements do hinder the hinder the growth of this cultural sport as far tourism is concerned:
• Resistance from animal rights activists(western vs. African cultural conflict)
• Minimal government involvement in terms of investment marketing and professional trainings in management of this sport.
• Un involvement by locals in terms of investment, negative perception,
• Political interference.
With the above forces still in existence in this sector, Kenyan tourism especially in western Kenya is likely to deteriorate.

RECOMMENDATION
The problem or question that needs to be sorted out is, how can be challenges be alleviated. The importance and the realistic benefits of the activity should be critically analyzed.

From this research, it is important that the government should focus on improving this sector in terms of investment and marketing.
A negative perspective from local people and foreigners has been also on the base of downfall of the sport. The locals should focus on the potential of this cultural sport as far as tourism is concerned.
Activists on the other hand should understand that bull fighting Kenyan style is a special brand of sport. The bulls are usually undertaken through counseling secession, encouragement and nutritional activities before participating in any event whatsoever, this is to make for the bull maintain its favorable mental frame. The calling off the bull fighting event that was planned to be staged in moi sports centre Kasarani on 13th December, 2008 was against animal welfare position which denotes that there is nothing inherently wrong with using animals as resources if there is no unnecessary suffering the activist should compare bull fighting and bull slaughtering and they have to visit slaughter houses before invading this cultural sport. Though some the factors like animal rights initiative prove to be somehow positive in terms of animals dignity protection, the weight of importance of the same should be taken into consideration

Bull fighting has for years been a bond to the luhya people. It shows the richness as far as their culture is concerned and the continuity of this practice strengthens the bond and socialists the new members of luhya community in terms of understanding their culture.

The activity is also a form of part time employment to some members in the community.
The owner of the bulls, cheers and the venues owner also extract some income from the same. The activity should be boosted to attract both domestic and foreign tourists who will in turn spend cash in the sector.

References

http://www.spaininfo.com, http://www.article –base .com, http://www.buzzle.com, http://www.kenyasafari.com.