Culture, yoga events help preserve Lamu Island's traditions

In addition to sightseeing and water sports, Lamu Island is famous for its cultural and religious festivals that attract thousands of visitors from across the globe.

The island hosts 17 festivals annually, with the most famous ones being the Lamu cultural, Maulid, yoga, arts and Lamu food festivals.

Held in the last week of November, the annual Lamu cultural festival is the oldest and the most popular event on the island.

The week-long event is aimed at promoting peace and harmony, as well as appreciating diversity and fighting marginalization on the island.

It is also designed to give visitors a taste of the Swahili life, traditions and culture.

Lethu Moti, a South African, is one of the tourists planning to attend the festival. She toured Lamu for the first time in August, and plans to go back for the cultural festival.

Moti, who runs a tour company in Cape Town, said her friends have been attending the cultural event annually and she looks forward to accompanying them this year.

"I'm already in love with Lamu Island. It's nice, quiet and people are friendly," she said. "For the first time, I'm in a place where there are no cars, but many donkeys. In fact, I took a photo with a donkey."

Several competitions are staged during the festival. Competitions include traditional Swahili poetry, henna painting, dhow races and swimming competition.

The donkey race is the real highlight of the event because the animal is a symbol of Lamu's culture. Donkey jockeys literally spend the entire year honing their riding skills for this event.

Traditional activities like dhow building, fish-trap making and palm weaving are also demonstrated. Traditional dances are also performed, livening up the magic of the event.

The annual Lamu Yoga Festival is another popular attraction for tourists, especially those yearning for a detox vacation. Held in March, the festival brings together yogis from all over the world.

The festival lasts for five days with over 25 teachers, 150 yoga classes, meditation and workshops in Shela, Lamu town and Manda Island. The next event is scheduled for March 4-8.

Another popular event on Lamu Island is the Maulid celebrations, a religious event marking the birth of Prophet Muhammad. It is held during the third month of the Muslim calendar between February and April.

The climax of the month-long celebration is a three-day festival organized by religious leaders and the National Museum of Kenya.

According to Said Mohamed, a tour guide based in Lamu Island, the festival brings together visitors and pilgrims from other parts of Kenya, East Africa as well as Arabian countries.

The main activities include recitals of praise poems, music, dance, calligraphy and art exhibits.

This is in addition to dhow and donkey races, swimming competitions and a lively parade finale, or zeffe, that winds through the narrow alleyways of the town lined with cheering crowds.

The main religious celebrations take place in and around the Riyadha Mosque, which was founded in the late 19th century.

Amina Salim, a Lamu local, said the annual events have livened up Lamu Island and strengthened friendship among the locals.

"The events have enabled us to preserve our Swahili culture, exploit our talents as well as attract tourists," she said.

Carol Korschen, the owner of Peponi Hotel, said tourist arrivals are encouraging, adding that her hotel is already fully booked for the December holidays and visitors have already started making February bookings.

"Our peak season is from October to March, with the minimum stay for visitors being three days," she said.

Rachel Feiler, the owner of Diamond Beach Village, said the port under construction in Manda Island is likely to open Lamu up to more tourists.

"The port will come along with more development and infrastructure, as well as access, further opening up Lamu," Feiler said.

edithmutethya@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Global 09/13/2019 page10)