Our Story

Connection to Nature for Cultural Regeneration

Roots

Our Grandmothers Kitchen - Village of the Heart

The Ocha Kwetu Tribe finds its cultural and ecological inspiration in the time-honored traditions that centered around our grandmother’s charming rustic hut. In this humble abode, the village’s heart was symbolically supported by three steadfast cooking stones.

The Ocha Kwetu Tribe emerges from a deeply intertwined and intricate web of teachings and practices drawn from the ancestral wisdom of various cultures and regions within our living ecosystem. It springs forth from a profound recognition that it is primarily nurtured and led by educators, farmers, and adventurers who are committed to reinvigorating individual growth towards greater freedom and wholeness. Their mission is to inspire the development of a self-sustaining living system within our contemporary world.

With humility and determination, we embark on an ongoing and grand endeavor to transform our societal, spiritual, and economic customs. This transformation aims to embody a fresh vision of harmonious coexistence with the natural world and the revival of cultural heritage. We consider it a privilege to collaborate with a diverse array of leaders and participants who bring multicultural, multiracial, and multifaceted perspectives, including those with different abilities, disabilities and faiths, into our tribe’s practice of co-creating vitality in our place.

Our shared bond with nature unites us, while our distinct expressions, identities, and ancestral backgrounds strengthen our collective resilience. We all recognize that something is amiss; the very solutions we employ to address problems we’ve created seem to compound our challenges today. In a fractured world, we grapple with how to navigate the chaos of a planet in decline and how to reform systems that prioritize profit at the expense of the Earth and its people (toxic capitalism).

Our commitment is unwavering: we stand in solidarity with Indigenous leadership, advocate for cultural reformation, actualizers of liberation, and promote the growth of a regenerative culture deeply rooted in our connection to nature. Our ultimate goal is to enable all individuals to flourish. Regardless of where you find yourself on your journey of connecting with nature, reviving culture, acquiring new skills, unlearning, and pursuing lifelong learning, you are warmly welcomed into the Ocha Kwetu Tribe. Together, we co-create enriching nature experiences and provide mutual support as we sow the seeds of aliveness in place, each in our own unique lives.

Join us in the pursuit of knowledge and transformation!

Our Vision

Our vision entails a transformation from competitive scarcity to collaborative abundance and embracing the power of infinite diversity in place. We aspire to see a world where the deep connection with nature and the rejuvenation of cultures become integral to every day aspect of our living society.

In this world, our human skills and unique talents are harnessed to serve the flourishing of life on our vibrant planet. This service to life also includes reconciling with past injustices, fostering equitable relationships among diverse contemporary populations, and engaging in a collective and remarkable effort to create a future where we co create and co evolve harmoniously with both each other and the Earth.

By making nature connection a catalyst for justice in our global community, we are actively collaborating across various sectors to promote cultural and ecological regeneration beginning within our local communities and beyond. This endeavor involves an ongoing exploration of our own diverse cultures, encompassing both the positive and challenging facets. Through this introspection, we seek to acknowledge, rectify by RE.culturing our oppressive patterns from our past while nurturing new, natural, social, spiritual, economic, indirect and direct practical practices and relationships that trace their origins back to our ancient connections.

Being the Practice

In our pursuit of holistic growth and harmonious existence, we embrace the timeless wisdom encapsulated in ancient Bantu Culture. These guiding principles inspire our journey towards self-discovery and connection with the natural world.

1. Harmony: We cultivate harmony with the Earth by delving into the art of growing aliveness with place. wilderness living skills, which encompass herbalism, shelter-making, tracking, and naturalist practices. Through these skills, we harmonize with nature’s rhythms, fostering a profound connection with the ecological and cultural evolution as place.

2. Balance: We strive to maintain balance in our lives by incorporating the teachings of handcrafting and other practical crafts. These skills not only empower us to craft essentials but also symbolize the equilibrium we seek to uphold within ourselves and the world around us.

3. Truth: The cultural elements we embrace, such as song, storytelling, ceremony, and reciprocity practices, serve as vessels of truth and wisdom. These age-old traditions hold cross-cultural significance, transcending time and place to illuminate the universal truths inherent in our shared human experience.

4. Justice: We acknowledge that many of these cultural elements were nearly lost to history due to the trauma and disconnection experienced by our ancestors. We recognize the resilience and courage of our indigenous peoples and traditional communities who preserved these practices, often under duress. We stand in solidarity with their ongoing struggles for justice and liberation.

5. Order: Within the neighborhoods, living rooms, forests, and street protests across the globe, we find pockets of wise and courageous individuals who continue to protect and nurture these traditions. We honor their commitment to maintaining order and continuity in the face of adversity.

6. Reciprocity: We understand that our journey is intertwined with the contributions of those who came before us and those who safeguard these traditions today. We acknowledge the gifts we receive from indigenous communities and traditional practitioners and commit to reciprocating their generosity and supporting their freedom.

7. Propriety: Our nature connection practices are not isolated from our post-activism efforts. Instead, they serve as a foundation for our dedication to serving all forms of life. We recognize that our actions and intentions must align with the principles of “Ubu-Ntu”, fostering propriety in our interactions with the Earth and its inhabitants.

This journey to discover Ocha Kwetu is a calling to embark on a transformative exploration that unites our inner growth with our commitment to a thriving, interconnected living world.

Lineages

The Ocha Kwetu Tribe is a diverse community of individuals with various ancestral backgrounds and teaching lineages coming together to explore and evolve their practices. They acknowledge the complexity of their lineages, which contain both positive and negative aspects, and are committed to repairing and re-culturing these lineages through acknowledgment and building living relationships.

Their work spans from organizing tribal gatherings, traditional summer schools, and living food forest activities, as well as addressing modern challenges in a fragmented world and fostering intergenerational connections. They have gained valuable experiences and skills, generously shared by teachers who aim to inspire and reactivate ancestral ways rather than exploit them.

The Ocha Kwetu Tribe is grateful to their teachers, recognizing their humanity, flaws, and ongoing growth. They honor these teachers while also learning from their mistakes to advance their own practices with integrity and RE.culturing as part of their co-evolutionary role.

The tribe’s journey has led them to connect with diverse nature-connected communities and indigenous tribal elders who have shared their wisdom. They have explored various teachings and practices from around the world, including local wisdom from the Luo and Bantu Luhya people of western Kenya.

The Ocha Kwetu Tribe emphasizes the importance of seeking out these teachers and their work. Ocha Kwetu Tribe highly appreciates the support of local communities in Kenya, and strives to nurture and nourish their connection to their place and celebrate cultural

Village Life Experience

Explore Africa Like a Local

Our People

Be a Part of Ocha Kwetu Tribe

Becoming a member of the Ocha Kwetu tribe invites a transformative shift in one's perspective and engagement with the world. This transformation is pivotal, serving as a gateway to unlock the immense possibilities of becoming an integral part of our community dedicated to learning and taking purposeful action. We are actively nurturing skills and abilities that bridge individuality with the capacity to nurture and sustain all forms of life within our homes.

Careers

Our Living Impact

RE.turning to the Land

🌿Healing with the Earth 🌿

Embark on a Transformational Journey to Explore Rural Village Life in Kenya

Dear Earth-Lovers, Seekers of Wisdom, and Nature Enthusiasts,

Are you ready to embark on an extraordinary journey that will reconnect you with the ancestral roots of humanity and the healing power of Mother Earth? Join us in the village of hearts in Bondo, Siaya county, Kenya, as we invite you to experience the magic of rural village life guided with the Ocha Kwetu tribe together with the wisdom of the place and the local people.

Ocha Kwetu Bondo Farm is your gateway to an immersive experience like no other. Nestled in the embrace of nature, our farm is located in Bondo, Siaya county, Kenya, a place where the river Yala flows nearby, infusing life into Lake Namlolwe (known as Lake Victoria in colonial times). This land is a testament to the profound connection between people and their environment, where lush trees, open fields, meandering streams, vibrant organic gardens, and diverse wildlife coexist harmoniously.

We, the Ocha Kwetu Tribe, are deeply grateful for the natural and cultural wonders that surround us today. Our mission is to rediscover and revive our cultural heritage while fostering reconciliation between people and the land they call home. In this endeavor, we are guided by the wisdom of the indigenous Dhluo people of Bondo and the broader Nyanza bio-regions.

Nature is our greatest teacher, offering invaluable lessons no matter where we find ourselves. At Ocha Kwetu, we invite you to explore the wisdom of the land, learn from the locals, and embark on a journey of cultural reconnection.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the village of hearts in Bar- Kanyango village, the Olungo Forest Creation group, Ocha Kwetu Families in Kenya, Mecan Homade, Regenesis Institute Resourcing, Arava Institute of Environmental Studies (Alumni Network), and countless others who have supported us in nurturing and nourishing healing relationships through in-direct work and regenerative connections.

By supporting the Ocha Kwetu Tribe, you contribute to initiatives that promote regenerative culture and ecological regeneration in rural villages. Together, we are increasingly building capabilities and capacity for self-creating living future rooted in honoring the earth as evolutionary partner.

To stay updated on Ocha Kwetu Tribe’s initiatives, including immersive nature connection experiences and more, we kindly request your support for our remarkable endeavors in both culture and ecological regenerative practices. Together, we can heal with the earth and rekindle the timeless bond between humanity and nature.

Are you ready to explore rural village life in Kenya and embrace the pedagogy of cracks? Join us on this extraordinary journey of healing, discovery, and deep connections.
(Together, let’s rediscover, reconnect, and regenerate beginning from your home as place)