In Loiyangalani a small town on the shores of the Jade Sea, the Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is held every year in June.
Loiyangalani means “a place of many trees” in the indigenous Samburu tongue and it is the home of El Molo, a community almost in extinction as compared to the other surrounding one
s.
El Molo and Turkana are now growing tourist destinations in Northern Kenya because of their distinctive cultural experiences. The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival widely known as Tobong’u Lore is regarded as the largest cultural festival in Kenya celebrated in the second-largest county in Kenya.
During the celebrations, locals exhibit a variety of their cultural heritage varying from songs to food, dance costumes, rituals and arti
facts.
The real reason for this festival however is said to be reconciliation of the communities that celebrate the festival. It is meant to strengthen the diminishing bond between all tribes affiliated to Loiyangalani that are near Lake Turkana, namely Borana, Burji, Dassanech, Elmolo, Gabbra, Garee, Konso, Rendille, Sakuye, Samburu, Somali, Turkana and Wata.
The main occupation of the tribes hovers around tourism, fishing and gold panning. At some point, these ethnic groups fought over grazing rights for their livestock. They also have troubling histories of conflicts and “mutually exclusive wor
ld views.”
The first Lake Turkana Cultural Festival took place in 2008 to mainly unite the communities that live in the Loiyangalani area. That same year, the National Museums of Kenya officially opened the first and only Desert Museum in Loiyangalani which showcases lifestyle and culture of the people.
As part of the festivities, a three-day carnival is held on the main street now known as ‘Festival Avenue’ because of the celebrations. The pinnacle of the festival is on the third afternoon of the celebrations where everyone from the community gathers at the festival grounds. The leaders and politicians of the communities take turns gi
ving speeches.
When all the talking is said and done, the tribes take turns to showcase their cultural traditions to onlookers mostly through their music and dance. When the sun goes down, there is an enactment of a “message-driven drama” followed by a traditional costume fashion show then a “disco capped by a famous local singer.”
