(Posted 14th October 2022)
“Rusinga Festival is an occasion for us to reflect other aspects of the Suba culture including music, dance, attire, crafts and other cultural expressions which can be exploited to enrich the lives of the people of Rusinga Island and the people of our country as a whole.” said Amb. (Dr). Amina Mohamed EGH (Immediate Former Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage)
Greetings from Rusinga Island and welcome to Rusinga Festival 2022!
The 11th edition of Rusinga Festival this year takes place on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd of December. The Suba community celebrates the giant strides they have made over the last decade in the revival of Suba language and culture!
The theme for this year is Owuiwulo Owuyia: Celebrating a People Reborn.
The festival organizers are also glad to be on the road to full recovery from the devastating Covid-19 pandemic that disrupted the norm of many social gatherings for over the past two years now.
Over the last decade, the festival has provided the Abasuba with a platform for cultural expression, public participation, knowledge and cultural exchange while at the same time economically empowering women and youth. It has been a cultural answer to the question ‘Can a people die?’ (The Suba language and culture are listed as endangered by UNESCO and this has been part of the community’s effort to revive it).
This year’s edition celebrates the achievements the communtiy has had in bringing back the dignity and pride of recognition for the Abasuba people. Amid the acknowledgement of these strides, we shall not relent, and we challenge ourselves to achieve more in this decade.
The largest cultural festival in Western Kenya will offer two days of music, fashion, food, artistry, literature, sports and conversations that take you back in time into the wealth of the Suba Culture. Their founding principle remains the same – bridging the gap between cultures is necessary for peace, growth, stability and development.
As a not-for-profit organization, the community’s resilience continues to be built on the support and goodwill of the Abasuba community members, history and culture lovers across the globe, and you – our audience and number one supporter. This gives them the energy to keep doing what they do and they are deeply grateful for that.
The festival organizers look forward to this new era, and to celebrating with you!
Come experience the rich Suba culture, serenade in the stunning nature on the Suba islands, and savour every sunrise and sunset over Africa’s largest fresh water lake, and one of Kenya’s hidden gems on Lake Victoria.
Save the date and help spread the word!
And should you know of a potential partner who would want to jump into this celebration, please feel free to introduce them!
www.ATCNews.org has been a media partner of the Rusinga Festival since its inception and continues to support the festival and its organizers.
