LOT OF EVENTS!
14-10-2023 by redazione
From the camel race in Maralal, in the heart of the Samburu region, to the cultural festival of ancient Arab "maulid" tradition in Lamu, to the Turkana ethnic festival, which showcases dances and customs of a people on the fringes of the country in a rugged, lunar but unique region.
This is what Kenya has been offering for the past week in terms of attractions that have the world talking about its beauty and the customs and colors of its people.
The Maralal International Camel Derby 2023 is a unique and exciting event that celebrates the culture and heritage of the Samburu people. Once again this year it was a spectacle of speed, grace and power, attended by thousands of tourists, including from other African countries, proving how much the traditions are still felt.
The Maralal event over the years has achieved international famas as a unique sporting and cultural event. Hundreds of camels compete tenaciously, which is fun and a great way to introduce the world to the Samburu culture and the spectacular sights near Maralal.
The derby also helps raise awareness of the importance of camels to the Samburu economy and way of life. Camels have always been an integral part of the culture and heritage of the Samburu people. The camel is a symbol of their nomadic lifestyle and their dependence on these animals for transportation, milk, and as a source of livelihood.
From the deep north of Kenya to the northeastern coast bordering Somalia.
The Lamu archipelago is increasingly fashionable and a destination for a diverse and international tourism, ranging from VIPs in super-luxury resorts, to yoga lovers and young hipsters and lovers of unspoiled nature. As is well known, there are no cars in Lamu and one moves around by boat or...on donkeys.
Maulid, a traditional Islamic holiday celebrating the birth of Muhammad, is celebrated in Lamu every year with a festival that this year took place this week and will end on Sunday. Local authorities say there are 30,000 tourists on the island. Sporting events (the traditional donkey race and dhow regatta, the historic Swahili boats, swimming competitions, tug-of-war, soccer, and athletics) alternate with cultural gatherings and among historians and scholars of Islam, as well as competitions in traditional Swahili poetry, henna painting, and games of bao, the traditional Swahili checkers).
The festival takes place in and around the Riadha Mosque and Islamic Center, while cultural activities take place on the island's waterfront and Mukunguni Square outside the Fort. The best-known cultural activities are the Goma dances, which involve standing men holding long walking sticks and swaying gently to the rhythm of drums in meditation. Other elders, armed with Arab swords, stage mock fights using their sandals as shields to the sound of drums. Meanwhile, young people participate in "Kirumbizi," a dance similar to wrestling.
Finally, back in the far north, the Turkana festival, an ancestral event that brings together a unique territory and the spectacular choreography of its people, began last Thursday, also has high geopolitical significance.
The event serves as a unifying platform for the Ateker community, which spans Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
Its primary goal is to promote peace and collaboration among the various communities in the county.
This year, President Ruto also took part. The festivities, with costume beauty contests, performances and music, will continue through Sunday.
CELEBRATIONS
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It is a special week for the Muslims of the Kenyan coast who, being moderate and optimally...
EVENTS
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This year, the first week of September also marks a unique event in sub-Saharan Africa: the "Maralal International Camel Derby".
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STORIES
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EVENTS
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PERSONS
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ALERT
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EVENTI
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TRADITIONS
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PARKS AND RESERVES
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