In Malindi’s Kijiwe Tanga, walls have become storytellers. At Sal Achievers Academy, vibrant murals burst with images of indigenous meals, reminding students that food is more than nourishment, it is culture, memory, and identity.

These colorful artworks are not just decoration; they are a pioneering educational tool, inspiring young minds to embrace traditional diets.

The community has been urged to teach their children the importance of traditional foods as a way of shaping their thinking and anchoring them in the culture of healthy eating.

Virginia Ruguru, Director of Torch Initiatives, noted that a large percentage of people especially those living in urban areas have abandoned traditional diets, a trend that has contributed to the rise of certain illnesses.

Speaking at the academy during an event aimed at sensitizing students on the value of traditional foods through murals, Ruguru explained that the initiative of using wall paintings in schools will help learners constantly recall the importance of these foods in their diet.

She emphasized that these murals are the first of their kind in Africa, marking a groundbreaking step in using visual art to promote nutrition and cultural heritage.

Meanwhile, Davis Ngala, a community activist promoting traditional nutrition, advised families to take advantage of available spaces at home to establish small gardens where they can grow such foods, particularly vegetables.

At the same time, the school’s head teacher, Amos Baya, remarked that the murals displayed within the institution have enabled students to retain vivid memories of traditional foods, sparking their interest in consuming them at home.