The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is a 3-day Cultural Festival that incorporates cultural music, traditional dances, Kenyan art as well as fun and exciting competitions and games.
The festival usually takes place in June each year and is an excellent way for tourists to gain insight into Kenya’s culture and lifestyle. This year, the festival took place from 13 June to 16 June in Loiyangalani, Marsabit County in Northern Kenya, located near Lake Turkana.
If you’re planning a trip to Kenya over the next year, it would be a great idea to work this festival into your itinerary. Allowing yourself to experience the culture and heritage of Northern Kenya as many different tribes from the surrounding regions participate in this Festival. With each year that passes the Lake Turkana festival gets bigger and better so you'll be sure to have a blast!
History of Lake Turkana Cultural Festival
The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival first took place in 2008 to boost tourism and turn the spotlight towards this neglected part of Northern Kenya, i.e. in and around the Jade Sea. The Festival takes place at Loiyangalani each year!
Lake Turkana Cultural Festival, Image Source: Magicalkenya.Com
What to Expect
The Festival is an open-air event lasting for three days. Men and women from 14 different Northern Kenyan tribes – including El Molo, Gabbra, Samburu, Rendile, Dasannach, Watta and other Turkana tribes – dress up in their traditional clothes and traditional perform dances as well as other forms of art. Live music is the background sound of this festival, filling the air with unique sounds from African musical instruments. You can also expect to catch local musicians and singers putting on a show.
Lake Turkana, Image Source: Magicalkenya.Com
Experiencing the culture of the northern tribes is not limited to performance arts. Numerous stalls offering a taste of the sumptuous local cuisine will leave your taste buds asking for more!
The night party features dance performances and music that will breathe back life into you.
The tribes that participate in the Festival have to face challenging circumstances throughout the year. Often, spells of droughts affect the area. Moreover, the locals have no access to proper healthcare services as well. This Cultural Festival is the highlight of the year for them, and it’s something that lights up their lives – for some time at least!
Lake Turkana, Image Source: Magicalkenya.Com
