Turkana Festival Kenya: Cultures and traditions of the Turkana people

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

Tourists in Kenya wanting to experience something different have a unique opportunity.

Tourists in Kenya wanting to experience something different have a unique opportunity. The year 2008 is significant not just for the first ever Turkana Festival but equally for the opening of the Desert Museum in Loiyangalani which showcases the cultures and traditions of the Turkana people and other tribes living in the area like the El Molo, Samburu, Gabbra, Rendile, Watta, Dasannach and the Pokot.

This year is the 7th edition of the festival taking place, between June 13th and 15th and the area expects to be once again the center of activities as visitors from near and far will flock to the area by air and road. The Marsabit County Government in conjunction with the German Embassy, Private Safaris and the National Museums of Kenya are the main supporters of LTCF 2014 but the Kenya Tourism Board, aka as Magical Kenya, the Kenya Wildlife Service, Kempinski, Safaricom and other corporate sponsors have also come on board to make the festival in this remote part of Kenya again a success as it was in recent years.

Asked what the festival is all about it is worthwhile to draw on the official program outline to shed more light on the upcoming celebrations, for which some 5.000 visitors are expected over the three festival days.

Fourteen Kenyan communities.

A remote region of the country.

Different traditions.

Environmental challenges.

Economic prospects.

Reconciliation.

In a nutshell, this is what the Lake Turkana Festival 2014 is all about. The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival has become an important element of Kenya’s annual event calendar and this yearโ€™s event is co-organized for the first time by the County Government of Marsabit.

The festival encapsulates the traditional knowledge, beliefs and values of communities in Marsabit County. This annual event provides an opportunity to travel to explore Northern Kenya and enjoy myriad of colorful cultures while discovering treasures of the region.

The event will feature unique performances and cultural traditions of at least twelve ethnic communities which live in Marsabit County: El Molo, Rendille, Samburu, Turkana, Dassanatch, Gabra, Burji, Borana, Konso, Sakuye, Garee, and Waata. The presentation of the customs and living conditions of the twelve tribes, their spectacular traditional costumes, arts and crafts, dances and music is a unique and fascinating experience โ€“ in particular in light of the stunning geographical characteristics and the limited general knowledge about the Lake Turkana and Marsabit County.

And if anyone, after all these explanations, still seeks to know more, best to make arrangements to travel to Loiyangalani and join the fun this festival is promising to be. Kenya at its best because Kenya still got what it takes!

For additional country information click on www.magicalkenya.com

About the author

Avatar of Linda Hohnholz

Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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