- The festival showcases the rich culture and heritage of Marsabit communities, home to more than 14 tribes, and will be preceded by various competitions.
- The team from the Department of Culture, Gender and social services led by CECM Culture Jeremy Ledaany and senior staff met bar and restaurant owners and hoteliers in a brief session to discuss the upcoming cultural event.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
The county government of Marsabit has invested in the revival of cultural festivals with the main goal of promoting the rich culture and unity of the community.
The festival showcases the rich culture and heritage of Marsabit communities, home to more than 14 tribes, and will be preceded by various competitions.
The team from the Department of Culture, Gender and social services led by CECM Culture Jeremy Ledaany and senior staff met bar and restaurant owners and hoteliers in a brief session to discuss the upcoming cultural event.
They also visited the cultural festival site to assess the damages.
Ledaany said culture is one of the greatest tools that unite people adding that it creates meaningful life experiences.
He said the festival will be fostering unity among the leaders and the community by sharing diverse cultures.
"The annual cultural event will broaden views on cultural differences, promote mutual respect and inter-cultural learning through non-formal experiences while promoting cultural diversity," he said.
He said community elders and leaders that the famed Marsabit Loiyangalani cultural festival after three years of suspension, due to COVID-19 and prolonged drought, will be celebrated on November 22, this year.
He called on locals and international tourists to prepare for the global event.
"I want to send an early invitation to every resident and tourist to the festival," he said
Ledaany said he was excited for the return of the cultural festival saying the annual event seeks to uniquely protect the beautiful and diverse local cultures and traditions.
He stated that it would present the perfect opportunity for domestic and international tourists to celebrate the diversity of local cultures.
The administrator said Governor Mohamud-led administration will prioritize such celebrations and added that they are the best platforms to brand, package and market marsabit county as a unique tourist destination.
He said Governor Mohamud is committed to promoting peace and cohesion through enhancing the annual cultural festival.
"Loiyangalani cultural festival presents the rich cultural heritage of Marsabit residents to the entire nation and world. It is my sincere hope that everybody will enjoy the many events and activities during the festival," the CEC said.
"The annual cultural event gives opportunity to both local and international visitors to celebrate the diversity of our cultures."
Director of Culture Joseph Mirgichan told local organizing committee members that the festival is in line with Governor Mohamud's cultural agenda.
The agenda, he said, is aimed at bringing together communities through facilitating and promoting inter-cultural experiences, peaceful and harmonious coexistence among marsabit residents and its environs.
He said the event will bring together residents, organizations and individuals in a bid to strengthen ties and multi-lateral relationships.
"The festival will create a forum for people from diverse cultural backgrounds to meet and exchange their respective cultures," the director said.
The announcement was welcomed by different stakeholders saying this will mark a new dawn in an effort to revive the festival.
Secretary of the local organizing committee Ambrose Lepakiyo said such events are key in promoting culture.
He said reviving the festival was the best option that will enable the community to gain from such events.
"These festivals always put Marsabit on the global map. We were disappointed to see the festivals failing to take place three years ago but I am happy to hear the plan is in place to bring them back," he said
He asked organizers of the event to have in their program activities that will see stiff competition and not just speeches.
Image: ABDIKADIR CHARI
Opinion leader Naphtaline Kara Ekopor hailed the marsabit county government for reviving the annual cultural festival terming it a major economic development and transformation of the local livelihood.
He asked the county government to involve youths in the preparation of the cultural festival and train them to be a champion of culture.
This he said is in order to transform traditional knowledge from the older generation to the younger hyped generation.
"Young people are getting consumed, lost in modernism and abandoning what they consider less interesting and boring culture. Cultural festivals simply immerse us in our heritage and remind us of who we are as a people," he said.
"The festival also serves to attract the life and culture of local people. I would like to challenge our county government to direct more investment in cultural activities within their jurisdiction."
He added:
"We would like the young people to be part and parcel of our cultural activities for sustainability. When young people are custodians of our culture, we are assured of continuity."
He asked community elders to initiate the young generation into their culture by involving them in their activities.
He said through the involvement, there will be a smooth transition when they exit the stage.
"We cannot be talking of culture when we are not involving the young people. How else will the culture be passed to the next generation if the young people are not involved," he said
Hoteliers and bar owners could not hide their joy at the return of the annual Loiyangalani cultural festival and said they anticipate a boom in business during the festival.
"As hoteliers, we have witnessed full bookings in our hotels every time these festivals are held. We would reap big profits during such events, we welcome the decision by the planners," said Gabriel.
Maria Lepati, a bar and restaurant owner in Loiyangalani said the annual cultural festival plays a huge role in opening up the Marsabit county tourism sector and economic activities and provides a platform for artisans and performing artists to earn a living.
She called for concerted efforts to package culture and tradition in an interesting manner through social media and technological tools to attract young people.