The Rusinga Cultural Festival is the event of the year that takes you to one of Kenya’s hidden gems on Lake Victoria. It’s two days of nothing but music, fashion, film, food, artistry, literature, sports and conversations taking you back in time to 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).
History of Rusinga Festival
Much has changed since 2012 when we first opened our doors, but our founding principle remains the same – bridging the gap between cultures 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, we welcome thousands of attendees from across the country and beyond.
Objectives of the Festival
- Recognize, celebrate and appreciate all aspects of the Suba culture (one of the marginalized communities in the country)
- Promote cultural expressions, public debates and cultural exchange both locally and internationally
- Safeguard the intangible cultural heritage of the Abasuba.
- Promote the Suba Islands – Rusinga and Mfangano as tourist destinations (both local and international)
- Provide a platform for local artists, organizations and groups to showcase/market/sell their products and services hence opportunity to get economically empowered
- Open up the cultural industry as an opportunity for cultural practitioners
- Create networks between the community and corporate organizations, learning institutions, NGOs, diplomatic missions, parastatals and governmental institutions
- Provide a forum for discussing challenges affecting the community e.g. health & sanitation, HIV, banking, social security protection, etc
- Provide a platform for talent development