LAMU CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2013

Once again Lamu Cultural Festival is back. The festival is organized by the Lamu Cultural Promotion Group and hosts an array of activities ranging from music performances, donkey races, traditional dances, handicraft display, dhow races, Swahili poetry competition, henna painting to bridal ceremonies.

Lamu is an old town that lies on the upper edge of the Kenyan coastline and has a very rich Swahili culture background. It was inscripted as a World Heritage Site in 2001.

This Festival attracts many participants drawn from different parts of the world that come to experience the Island’s virgin beaches, magnificent architecture that dates a few centuries back, the rich Swahili culture and the wonderful hospitality of the people of Lamu as well as participate in some of these activities.

This year’s event goes down from 22^nd to 24^th November.

LAMU CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2012

Re post. Lamu Old Town is a unique and rare historical living heritage with more than 700 years of continuous settlement.  Since its inscription as a World Heritage Site in 2001, the annual Lamu Cultural Festival has been a celebration of the unique Swahili heritage of the Lamu Archipelago.

Lamu cultural festival is organized every November by the Lamu Cultural promotion group. The three day festival showcases traditional dances, displays of handicraft and competitions on water and land (Swahili poetry, donkey races, dhow races, henna painting), Swahili bridal ceremony and musical performances.

This year’s festival will be held on 15th to 18th November, 2012.

LAMU CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2012

Lamu Old Town is a unique and rare historical living heritage with more than 700 years of continuous settlement.  Since its inscription as a World Heritage Site in 2001, the annual Lamu Cultural Festival has been a celebration of the unique Swahili heritage of the Lamu Archipelago.

Lamu cultural festival is organized every November by the Lamu Cultural promotion group. The three day festival showcases traditional dances, displays of handicraft and competitions on water and land (Swahili poetry, donkey races, dhow races, henna painting), Swahili bridal ceremony and musical performances.

This year’s festival will be held on 15th to 18th November, 2012.

LAMU CULTURAL FESTIVAL 2011; A SUCCESS

by Noel Mwaniki. 

Lamu Old Town is a unique and rare historical living heritage with more than 700 years of continuous settlement.  Since its inscription as a World Heritage Site in 2001, the annual Lamu Cultural Festival has been a celebration of the unique Swahili heritage of the Lamu Archipelago.

                                           Lamu Cultural Festival, Youtube video

Lamu cultural festival is organized every November by the Lamu Cultural promotion group. The three day festival showcases traditional dances, displays of handicraft and competitions on water and land (Swahili poetry, donkey races, dhow races, henna painting), Swahili bridal ceremony and musical performances.

                                           Lamu Cultural Promotion Group Ad Poster

This year’s festival was a huge success. The Tourism Minister, Najib Balala led dignitaries from the European Union, French and Spanish embassies, the National Museums of Kenya among others. The French Government has supported the festival since its inception and pledged continued support. The Spanish government and the European Union also pledged support.

Domestic tourists made the largest percentage of visitors. A low turnout by foreign tourists is attributed to the kidnaping incidences that occurred sometimes back and led to issuance of travel advisories to the coastal town. However, security was beefed, with security personnel visible on every part of the Island.