Lamu Governor Issa Timamy has announced that the county is going to host the Lamu Cultural festival from November 24 to 26 to promote tourism which was greatly affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
Governor Timamy urged the County to work closely with tourism associates to make sure that the event is successful.
The Lamu Cultural festival is a three-day celebration that is held yearly in the last week of November to promote the Swahili heritage and the Islands’ local culture.
The gala was introduced in 2000 and is held in Lamu Old Town which was listed in 20001 by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.
The event is to be held this Thursday after the relief of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The Island has unpolluted beaches and age-old traditions for people to experience. Other activities to be enjoyed during the fest is henna painting, traditional Swahili poetry, dhow sailing and donkey races, culminating with a traditional wedding.
All the cultural competitions is to show how the community needs to have different kind of skills to live in the Island. Various Swahili dishes will also be presented in the event.
According to reports, the county lost at least 20 million yearly because of not hosting which was partly due to the pandemic and also failing to elevate the category.
The Governor added that the people of the Island will put out their history and heritage and culture which is the key in the business development of the tourism sector.
Other annual festivals in Lamu are Maulidi Islamic Festival, Lamu Yoga Festival, Lamu Painters Festival and Shela Hat Contest.
BY NOELLA OUKO