Noreen Peniel’s efforts to keep cultural heritage alive in the US

Noreen Peniel occasionally wraps herself in the iconic Maasai shuka and walks through the streets of Massachusetts, the American state she has called home for the past five years. The brightly coloured robe, marked with bold red stripes, immediately draws attention.

Yet for her, it is not simply a piece of cloth. It is a living reminder of her identity, her upbringing and the traditions she carries from Tanzania, thousands of miles away from home.