Pomp and colour as Lamu festival concludes

By PATRICK BEJA

The curtain fell on the annual Lamu Maulid festival at the weekend, with a big procession, song and dance along the town’s streets.

The procession kicked off at a graveyard for the founders and ended with prayers at the famous Riyadha Mosque.

Faithful, including pilgrims from United Arab Emirates, Egypt, UK, Comoros and Tanzania, formed part of the crowd that lined up the streets as they played drums, sang and danced to celebrate the birth of Prophet Mohamed.

Muslims dance upon arrival at Riyadha Mosque grounds in Lamu island after a procession along the town’s streets on Friday. This was to mark the birth of Prophet Mohamed. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]

The week-long festival was rich in culture, including the dhow race that attracted a huge crowd at the Lamu sea front.

But lack of the popular dock race after a boycott by the participants dampened the celebration mood of many.

Organisers estimated the crowd that attended the festival at 50,000 and described this year’s celebration as one of the most colourful.

Sharif Muhdhar Khitamy, the main organiser, said the celebrations pulled pilgrims from around the world.

"We have received visitors from Tanzania, Comoros, the UK and the UAE among other places. It is one of the most successful festivals," Sheikh Khitamy said.

Former Tanzanian President Ali Hassan Mwinyi caused excitement when he flew into Lamu and joined in the procession of faith, accompanied by Tourism Minister Najib Balala.

It was a rare encounter for Balala and his rival in Mvita constituency Abulswamad Shariff Nassir when they walked shoulder-to-shoulder during the religious procession.

Balala entry

It took Mr Nassir by surprise when Balala stormed the town and joined afternoon Friday prayers, stayed and participated in the procession to mark the end of Maulid.

Also in the procession were Fisheries Assistant Minister and Lamu East MP Abu Chiaba, Lamu County Council chairman Abdul Kassim and a host of councillors from across Coast Province.

Earlier, Khalifa Mubarak Al-Hinai, a minister from Oman, also graced the festival and paid homage to the revered Riyadha Mosque.

Guest houses and hotels reported brisk business as boats ferried in faithful and rooms were full booked through the Maulid week.

Khitamy said a free medical camp hosted at the Riyadha Islamic centre had attended to more than 2,000 Lamu residents.

Head of the medical team Dr Gulam Bachani said they had mobilised 50 medical staff for the camp.

He said diabetes, pneumonia, anemia and chest diseases were common among Lamu residents and attributed it to lifestyle and poor sanitation.

"The diseases are associated to feeding habits and sanitation as the island settlement is served by open sewers, which may expose them to health problems," he said.