Cultural Festivals in Kenya – Wangechi Gitahi Travels

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Seventh Nairobi International Cultural Festival

By Wangechi Gitahi

When I found out that the Seventh Nairobi International Cultural Festival was being held on the 8th of June 2019, I hived off the date on my calendar. For the last two years that I knew about it, my diary and their calender have always clashed, but this year I wanted us to be insync. The festival is hosted annually by the National Museums of Kenya, providing a platform for citizens of all countries represented in Kenya, to present, share and engage each other on all facets of their culture ranging from music, dance, cuisine, handcrafts and fashion. The event was held at the Nairobi National Museum and was Free for all attendees. It was indeed an exciting Festival with lots of funfair and engaging experiences for all in attendance. The first element of the festival that welcomed me to the grounds was this painting of the Kenyan flag, that…

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Africa Nouveau Festival 2019

By Wangechi Gitahi

“Africa Nouveau is an annual 3 days 3 nights arts and music festival congregating creators, curators and fans of Africa cool from Africa and its Diaspora, ” Management. This year, the event was being held from the 8th-10th March 2019, at the Ngong Race Course, Nairobi, Kenya. I was really looking forward to attending it after seeing and hearing about it in 2018, thus it was on my bucket list for 2019. As I started preparing to attend it, I learnt that its Theme for 2019 was “Africans and Outer World Beings” and this just heightened my resolve to attend, to learn a bit more what the the theme could actually mean. Take a walk with me, as I share my highlights and learning points from the festival. First up, I have to touch on the “Afro Bubblegum Philosophy” which states that, “African art can be fun, fierce, fantastical and…

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Life as a traditional Turkana lady

By Wangechi Gitahi

I saw him from across the room and I smiled at him, even though I had only seen him from a far on my last visit to Turkanaland. He seemed to sense my gaze and looked in my direction, a beautiful smile breaking from his lips, revealing white sparkling teeth. He rose and walked towards me, eyes locked on mine as if daring me to turn away. The last time I saw him, I didn’t get adequate time to look at him, learn his features, see him in his element or learn who he really is. No way was I going to let this chance pass me by and so I gawked, unashamedly. When he stood before me, I was impressed by his firm strong handshake, his confident gaze, his pronounced physical features and I noted he had a cute parting between the teeth on his lower gum. He greeted…

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Marsabit Lake Turkana Cultural Festival

By Wangechi Gitahi

The Marsabit Lake Turkana Festival is one of those “must attend” festivals in Kenya. The festival has been held annually in Loiyangalani since 2008 and it brings together the 14 communities found within the county who are dominantly pastoral and have preserved their culture. You will interact with communities like the Turkana, Samburu , Borana, Gabbra , Rendile , El Molo , Somali, Burji ,Konso, Sakuye ,Waata, Garee, Wayu, and Dassanatch, the last 5 I learnt of their existence at the festival.These communities are stereotyped to be enemies due to the many incidences of banditry in the region, but here , they were all, eating , drinking, singing and dancing together. The air in Loiyangalani was charged, super charged. The excitement of the people was almost tangible and equally contagious. The locals were expectant of the “fruits” the festival would bring the town whilst I was expectant of what I…

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Mombasa Cultural Festival

By Wangechi Gitahi

This is a must attend festival that should be on everyone’s bucket list. Mombasa in itself is one of those places I can’t get enough of. Once, twice, numerous times is never enough.Everything from the amazing beaches, to the beauty that is the Indian Ocean, to the diverse cultures that live there, to the well preserved historical places like Fort Jesus, the list is endless. When I heard about the cultural event, and knowing how I am really attracted to cultures, I bent backwards to ensure that I got to attend it. I am very glad I did as I got to experience the below. A) Borana Culture I hardly knew much about the Borana community before this, so seeing them exposing their culture was outstanding. They out did themselves in showcasing various elements of their culture from their food, clothing, music and dance among others. They are also pastoralists by…