Muslims flock Island for Maulid

By Maarufu Mohamed

Thousands of Muslims from all over the world have flocked Lamu Island for this year’s annual Maulid Festival, which kicked off on Monday.

Lamu’s Riadha Mosque and Islamic Centre Co-ordinator Sheikh Muhdar Khitamy said this year’s celebrations, the 121st, has attracted more than 50,000 visitors, both local and international.

He said more than 60 bulls donated by volunteers will be slaughtered at the Mosque for the Muslims attending the one-week festival.

Muslim elders meditate with sticks outside Riadha Mosque in Lamu during the Maulid Festival on Wednesday. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/SATNDARD]

"Maulid is the Arabic word for birth and is often referred to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). It is a holy celebration, usually held in the third Islamic lunar month of "Rabil awaal", he said yesterday.

Prophet Muhammad, who is the founder of Islam, was born during the year of the "Elephants" identified between AD 570 and AD 568. The Sheikh said the first public celebration took place in Egypt some 400 years after the death of the Prophet in the Eighth Century, before spreading to Mecca in Saudi Arabia and to other countries, including Kenya.

An Islamic Scholar and traditional medicine man Habib Swaleh from Commoro Island initiated the East African version of the Maulid Festival in Lamu in the 19th Century and founded the Riadha Mosque.

Sheikh Khitamy, a grandson of Swaleh, said: "A free medical camp at the mosque with more than 100 Kenyan Muslim doctors and the Kenya Red Cross Society officials will attend to the needy during the festival."

He said Muslim politicians attending the festival have been warned to keep off politics.

The festival will include traditional dances in the afternoon and night prayers inside the mosque. The dances from Pate, Siyu, Faza and Matondoni include Uta and Bantu, performed by men during harvests.

There will also be the battle training dance, Goma la siyu, played with swords and songs in praise of the Swahili heroes and a festive dance, Goma la barani and kirumbizi, for circumcision and wedding events.

Business boom

The climax will be tomorrow with a mass procession along the island’s seafront, chanting songs and drumming in praise of Prophet Muhammad.

The Kenya Ports Authority has ordered local boats operating from the main Mokowe jetty to place safety gadgets. Hotels and guesthouses are overbooked and some residents have hired out their houses.

Police have mounted several roadblocks between Garsen and Mokowe to enhance security.