Turkana Festival unites lake tribes in cultural celebration

The town of Loiyangalani on Lake Turkana will again come into the spotlight this year when the 8th Turkana Festival kicks off on May 29 and runs until May 31.

Co-hosted by the county government of Marsabit, the Kenya Tourism Board, the Kenya Wildlife Service, and the National Museums of Kenya, the twelve different ethnic groups living around the lake will once again showcase their unique culture and traditions to visitors from around the world. These tribes have been named as the El Molo, Rendille, Samburu, Turkana, Dassanatch, Gabra, Burji, Borana, Konso, Sakuye, Garee, and Waata.

The harsh environment and the added challenges caused by a shrinking water table, courtesy of Ethiopia’s various Gibe Dams which massively reduced the inflow of water into Lake Turkana, have for hundreds if not thousands of years nevertheless been home to some of Kenya’s smallest tribes, which live a largely nomadic lifestyle, constantly moving in search of pasture and water.

Lake Turkana, once upon a time also named Lake Rudolf or affectionately called the Jade Sea, due to its color, is one of Kenya’s less explored tourism attractions even though it is home to Sibiloi National Park and the digs of the Leakey family and others since, which unearthed the Cradle of Mankind.

Various safari operators have put tour packages together, taking visitors via Maralal and South Horr to the lake and then back via North Horr and Marsabit while, of course, the easy option is flying to Loiyangalani to attend the celebrations.