PHOTO: http://www.laketurkanaculturalfestival.com/

The Lake Turkana Cultural Festival will be held at Loiyangalani in Marsabit County from the 13th June – 15th June 2014. This year’s theme, “Embracing Cultural Diversity for Cohesion and  Socio-economic Development,” will focus on celebrating and preserving culture.

Loiyangalani is a small town located on the south-eastern coast of Lake Turkana, Kenya. The name which means “a place of many trees” in the native Samburu tongue, is home to the El Molo, an almost extinct community, among many other diverse communities. Its main industries include fishing, tourism and gold panning.

Lake Turkana Cultural Festival is fast becoming a popular tourist destination in Northern Kenya, as the surrounding El Molo and Turkana villages and others, offer unique cultural experiences that is unique to the communities.

June 2008, the National Museums of Kenya officially opened the first and only Desert Museum in Loiyangalani, which mirrors the Cultures and lifestyles of the eight communities that live in this area.

The National Museums of Kenya in collaboration with the German Embassy, and other partners, will team up for this weekend’s Lake Turkana Festival.

If you’re heading to Loiyangalani this weekend, look forward to celebrating and helping to preserve the cultures of the El Molo, Samburu, Gabbra, Rendile, Watta, Dasannach, Pokot and the Turkana.