Festivals in Kenya – Wangechi Gitahi Travels

Africa

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…

Africa

South Africa Cultural Seasons in Kenya 2019

By Wangechi Gitahi

When I first heard about the South Africa Cultural Seasons in Kenya, I was struck by the “Cultural Seasons.” In my mind, I envisioned a Festival of sorts that would immerse me in the rich South African culture. Thus, when I got the opportunity to attend the Gala Night that was happening on 25th February 2019, at the Nairobi National Museum , I arrived with lots of expectations yet not really knowing what they would offer. I am however really happy that I attended because, this gala not only informed me what exactly the South Africa Cultural Seasons was but, also enabled me to engage with it quite intensely. The gala dinner was a great sneak peek into what they had in store for all, as part of their “seasons”. First up, I was very impressed by the fact that the dinner was free sitting, which means, you could interact…

Africa

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…

Africa

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…