By Jibril Adan
In the last three days, Lamu island was a hive of activity as residents celebrated their culture and heritage.
The town, which was declared a world heritage site in 2001,woke up early on Friday to begin the festivities.
In the afternoons, hundreds of residents lined up at the seafront to watch dhow races and swimming competitions.
The seven islands of the Lamu archipelago, which are home to more than 40,000 people, participated in the competitions, with racing dhows flying trademark flags.
READ MORE
Three police officers stabbed during strange rampage
Traditional dances and mock fights were staged at the Mkunguni grounds, outside the Lamu fort and at the seafront.
In the Ngoma ya Bara, men in white robes and holding traditional walking sticks, swung energetically to rhythmic drum beats. Some of the dances were said to be part of influences from the Middle East fused with African rhythms.
MANUSCRIPTS
The festival started with the announcement that Germany had returned manuscripts of the poems of the ancient leader of Lamu, Zahidi Mgumi.
German Ambassador Walter Lindner presented Mngumi’s manuscripts to the National Museums of Kenya Chairman Issa Timamy.
Mngumi is the man who built the Lamu Fort in the 1820’s to protect it from attacks from Mombasa (Mvita) and Pate islands.
Chairman of the Lamu Cultural Promotion Group Alwi Sharriff said the annual event had raised the status of Lamu.
The group is behind the festival, which has run for eight years, attracting participants from all over the world.
"We came together eight years ago and started this event to bring visitors to this island and it has opened the doors of Lamu to the cultures of other nations," he said yesterday.
Morocco participated in the exhibitions, while a band from Spain entertained guests.
"This event serves to preserve the culture and traditions of this island," Mr Shariff added.Tourism Minister Najib Balala, who is the patron of the culture group, was the chief guest.
"The archhipelago’s unique heritage has universal values that carry the knowledge and wisdom of cultural pluralism and understanding in our world. The festival continues to preserve this," Balala said.
National Museums of Kenya Director Omar Farah kicked off the celebrations on Thursday night at a stakeholders meeting at the Lamu Fort. Timamy thanked Dr Farah for ‘raising the status of the National Museums of Kenya’.
Hundreds of residents turned up to enjoy the races, exhibitions and dances.
DHOWS RACE
The events were designed to encourage skills central to Lamu life. In the dhow race, the town’s finest were selected to compete, and race through a complicated series of buoys, combining speed with elaborate skill.
The race was not without its light moments.
During the finals on Saturday, three sailboats capsized a short distance from the finish line.
The race was won by a sailboat from Matondoni village, which is the traditional home of dhow builders.
The climax of the second day’s activities involved the town’s symbol of endurance - the donkey race. The sea front street was lined up with spectators as the donkey jockey’s raced for the title.
During the festival, the narrow streets of Lamu were overflew with people.
If you strolled on any street for more than 20 minutes, chances were you would pump onto a senior Government officials or envoy.
Many ambassadors pledged to support the museums to preserve the heritage of the island.
On Sunday, US Ambassador Michael Ranneberger donated Sh3.5 million to renovate the Lamu museum and restore archaic handwritten manuscripts 300 years old.
"We value our friendship with Lamu and the National Museums of Kenya and look forward to continuing our partnership in the preservation of the diverse cultures that make up this country," he said.
The chairman of NMK thanked the US for supporting the museums. Restaurants and sellers of traditional artifacts did booming business.
NMK’s Assistant Director for Coast Province Athman Hussen Athman said most artifact buyers were local tourists.
"The cultural festival and Maulidi attract many local tourists and it is they who mostly buy local handicrafts during the festival," he said.
Mr Athman put the number of visitors to the festival from outside Lamu at 35,000.
The event coincided with the school holidays, allowing students to attend.
SMOOTH FETE
Though most second time visitors said the festival was more organised than previous ones, the organisers have a long way to go before they can make the celebrations smooth.
A major shortcoming was lack of information. Even journalists had a rough time to know where to go when they needed to get in touch with officials or seek information on the day’s highlights.
During the festival, the town got its first ambulance from mobile telephone provider, Zain. It donated a Tuk Tuk to the local council.
