Rusinga Festival celebrates its 8th edition in Rusinga Island, 19th and 20th December. The festival offers two days of music, fashion, film, food, artistry, literature, sports and conversations that take you back in time into the wealth of the Suba culture.
The festival is a cultural answer to the question, “Can a people die?” As a result of assimilation and intermarriage with the Luo, the Suba culture has been under pressure and the language is now listed in UNESCO’s Red Book of Endangered Languages (2003).
Much has changed since 2012 when Rusinga Festival first opened their doors, but the founding principle remains the same – bridging the gap between cultures that is necessary for peace, stability and development. Eight years later, Rusinga Festival has grown tremendously to become a trademark in the Kenyan cultural festivals scene. Rusinga Festival prides itself as the biggest cultural event in Western Kenya. Each December, the Island welcomes thousands of attendees from across the country and beyond for the cultural festival. Our 2018 experience was one that left us in awe and with a yearning for a return trip to this magical island. Read all about it here!
The 2019 edition is tailored along the theme “The Island Remembers” – which gives us a reason to reminisce, celebrate, re-imagine and connect Rusinga Island to the world through art, culture and literature.
2019 being a momentous year, The Island Remembers will commemorate the fifty years that have passed since the death of the island’s greatest son – Tom Mboya – through an assassin’s bullet. Tom Mboya remains one of the most prominent personalities in Kenyan history. The Island Remembers will reflect on the 50 years since his tragic death, the historic reaction to his death, his life & struggles, the family he left behind and the continued impact of his legacy.
In celebrating, The Island Remembers, the festival will also explore and showcase the theme in many creative and cultural forms, while at the same time celebrating the African narrative. It will be interesting to see how the theme will play out in conversations on tourism, culture, identity, art, theatre, film, fashion, entrepreneurship, leadership, environment, disability, technology, women and youth empowerment, health, gender and so on throughout the festival.
This festive season plan to tour Rusinga Island and get to enjoy and indulge in the Rusinga Cultural festival ambience that’s rich with the Suba culture in addition to stunning serenades of nature with every sunset and sunrise over Africa’s largest freshwater lake.
