Lamu Annual Cultural Festival

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Lesson Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the Culture Class- Holidays in Kenya Series at SwahiliPod101.com. In this series, we’re exploring the traditions behind Kenyan holidays and observances. I’m Eric, and you're listening to Season 1, Lesson 23. Lamu Annual Cultural Festival. In Swahili, it’s called Sikukuu ya Lamu ya kusherehekea utamaduni.

The Lamu Annual Cultural Festival was started in 2001 to celebrate the unique Swahili heritage of the Lamu archipelago, in Swahili known as kisiwa cha Lamu. This festival takes place for three days every year, but each year it falls on a different date, typically in October or November.

Through this lesson, we will learn about how Kenyans celebrate the Lamu Annual Cultural Festival.

Now, before we get into more detail, do you know the answer to this question-

Why is Lamu town on UNESCO’s World Heritage list?

If you don't already know, you’ll find out a bit later. Keep listening.

This event is well known across Kenya as a celebration of traditional culture at which drums are played, traditional songs sung, and many people dance while dressed in their traditional costumes, or in Swahili vazi ya kitamaduni.

The event organizers prepare a number of competitions, which take place both on water and on land. One such competition is the bao game or Mchezo wa bao in Swahili. The bao game is a well known game in Kenya which uses a board with two rows of eight holes in which seeds are placed. Players make moves by sowing seeds along the holes. Whether you take seeds from holes or sow depends on the player’s previous turn. The objective of the game is to beat your opponent by emptying his front row seeds or limit his moves as much as possible.

Other games include donkey races, sailing races, and cross-country races along the waterfront.

During this event, there are also a number of poem presentations, in Swahili referred to as kukariri shairi. Kenyans also enjoy painting henna on their hands and legs as decorations. This is a particularly popular tradition among those who are planning to get married. This event often brings a rush of traditional wedding ceremonies as well.

Now it's time to answer our quiz question-

Why is Lamu town on UNESCO’s World Heritage list?

Because of the existence of the Lamu Archipelago, which is on the World Heritage List or in Swahili orodha ya tamaduni za dunia. Lamu is in the Indian Ocean in the Eastern part of Kenya. Lamu culture is also found in most historical sites. Swahili culture and history is clearly seen in this place.