Lamu Cultural Festival

This week Lamu, one of the islands on our Kenyan coast, will be celebrating the 11th Lamu Cultural Festival since it was declared a World Heritage Site in 2001. The festival has and continues to celebrate the unique and rich Swahili heritage of the Lamu Archipelago. The festival gives an opportunity to experience the islands sandy white beaches, the historical old town, friendly and warm people just to name but a few!

The festival runs from 24th November till the 27th November, and is organised by the Lamu Cultural Promotion Group. A number of activities take place such as a showcase of   showcase of 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. 

Please see the cultural itinerary below:

11th Annual Lamu Cultural Festival Programme 23 – 27 November 2011

Wed. 23rd - Sun. 27th 

Exhibition: ‘Memory and Identity’ Tracing Asisan Muslims of Lamu, Lamu Fort

Wed. 23rd 

19:00 – 21:00

Film/discussion ‘Sauti Muhimu: Kuongeza kuhusika kwa jamii katika maendeleo’, - Mkunguni square

Thurs. 24th

09:00 – 11.00

School Parade and Students Performance - From Mkunguni Square along the Seafront

16:30 – 18:00

Finals of the Football tournament - Pamba roho Ground

20:00 – 23:00

Madrasa tul madina from Mombasa - Mkunguni square Kasida 

Fri. 25th 

09:00 – 16:00 

Traditional displays, next to DC’s office

13:00 – 16:00

Jahazi Race - Swimming preliminaries, Seafront 

16:00 – 18:00

Dances: Shabwani, Kirumbuzi, Mdurenge dances - Seafront & Mkunguni square

20:00 – 22:30

Dances: Chama cha Matondoni (Matondoni Village), Goma la Siyu (Siyu village), Uta Dance (Lamu Town), Goma la Barani, Tari la Ndia (Pate village) - Seafront & Mkunguni square 

Sat. 26th 

09:00 – 16:00 

Traditional displays - next to DC’s office

10:00 – 11:00

Donkey race - in front of Lamu Museum

10:00 – 12:00

Book Launch (RISSEA /NMK) - Mkunguni square

1. ‘Jawabu la Mwana Kupona’ by Ali A. A. El-Maawy

2. “Kiswahili Research and Development in Eastern Africa” Editors: Rocha Chimera, Mohamed Karama, Ahmed Hussein and Khalid Omar 

3. “Kioo cha Nafsi” By: Jamil S Al –Jabry

4. “Mapisi ya Waswahili na Lugha yao Ya Kiswahili By: Prof. Sheikh Ahmed Nabahany

11:00 – 12:00

Canoe Race - Seafront

14:00 – 16:00

Mashua Race final, Swimming final - Seafront

16:00 – 18:00

Prize giving - Mkunguni square

19:00 - 22:00 

Food Bazaar (traditional Swahili cuisine)  - Sunsail Hotel

20:00 – 21:00

Swahili bridal display, Vugo dance/Traditional outfits show Dances - Lamu Fort  

Giriama dance, Pokomo dance, Orma dance, Chama cha Matondoni - Mkunguni square and Sea front

21:00 - Dawn

Live performances - Mkunguni square

- Spotlight on Kenyan Music concert, Focus on music of the pastoralists

- Praful Kumar and party, Bollywood music

Sun. 27th

09:00 – 12:00

Traditional displays - next to DC’s office

16:00 – 18:00

Dances Seafront/Goma la Barani, Mdurenge, Kirumbuzi,Uta Dance, Giriama, Orma - Mkunguni square

19:00 – 20:00

Documentary screening on the Lamu Cultural Festival - Mkunguni square 

20:00 – 23h00

Open Concert. Mohamed Shalli, Sani & Party, Lamu Local artists Lelele Africa By Mbarak and party - Mkunguni square 

Image and Itinerary courtesy of magicalkenya.com