Today sees the start of the 22nd Lamu Cultural Festival in the beautiful and still unspoilt Islamic-majority Kenyan archipelago.
The Lamu Cultural Festival is an annual event celebrated to showcase the rich culture and heritage of the Swahili people of Lamu, who have some of the oldest traditions in East Africa.
The Lamu County Government, which organises the festival, expects at least 30,000 residents and tourists to arrive on the island for three days of events from today to Saturday 30 November, with over 300 exhibitors, including local handicrafts and food, and many tourist operators.
This year's theme is ‘Lamu: Celebrating Heritage, Unity, Innovation and Economic Growth’.
Once again this year, the Lamu Cultural Festival will offer participants the rare opportunity to witness traditional dances, the famous donkey race, dhow races, swimming competition, henna painting, and the cultural display of the Swahili people, renowned for their handicraft and traditional skills, including the county's wood carving, all in one place.
It is in particular the famous donkey race, in the island city that is home to hundreds of donkeys living in complete symbiosis with the inhabitants, moving through the alleys during the day and meeting at night in the squares, that attracts hundreds of spectators.
The Old City of Lamu was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 and its location as the centre of the annual cultural festival is of prime importance.
More than just an event, the Lamu Cultural Festival is a tribute to the island's enduring traditions and values, blending past and present in a beautiful showcase of resilience and unity. The festival not only promotes diversity and cultural preservation, but is also a major boost for the local tourism and business sectors. Not to be forgotten, is the opportunity to taste real Swahili specialities cooked to perfection for the occasion: from crab samosas to shrimp-stuffed chapatis, from tamarind fish to typical Arab sweets such as halwa and Swahili sweets such as kaimati (sweetened tortelli).