Nakuru County will host the first ever African Cultural Caravan as part of its recognition as a United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Creative City.

This comes even as the festival highlights Kenya’s significance in contributing to African continent’s cultural exchange and promotion. The event themed ‘Journey Through Africa, will bring together cultural groups from six African nations to showcase the continent’s rich traditions and artistic heritage while fostering unity and cooperation.

The manager further explained that the caravan, which will be launched in Nakuru on August 18 this year, will travel through Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana, South Africa and Lesotho, showcasing diverse African cultures through music, dance, art and storytelling that would connect African communities and cultures in a unique and vibrant way.

Thabanja elaborated that the main objective of the festival was to promote continental socio-cultural integration through arts and culture by providing a platform to showcase culture as a prime driver of African integration.

While indicating that the initiative was part of a broader effort to celebrate and share the rich diversity of African heritage, the city manager said he was happy that the event will provide an opportunity for Kenyan players in the creative industry to showcase their unique cultural expression in content creation, music, dance, art and traditions.

He went on to say that the caravan will also serve as a bridge, fostering cultural exchange, diplomacy, infrastructure development, industrial growth, and social cooperation across Africa.

The cultural caravan, Thabanja added, will be a dynamic platform for cultural exchange, peacebuilding, and community empowerment, drawing on the continent’s rich history and artistic traditions to create a more interconnected and harmonious future.

The choice of the devolved unit to host the inaugural ‘African Cultural Caravan’ comes two years after Nakuru became the second county in East Africa to be placed on the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) list of Creative Cities Network.

The event, the city manager said, will involve various community-based organisations, youth groups and other stakeholders to ensure broad participation and ownership and will highlight the country’s diverse traditions, stunning landscapes, and unique tourist attractions.

Thabanja said one of the objectives of the Cultural Caravan was to attract both domestic and international tourists, boosting the local economy and promoting Kenya as a vibrant cultural destination.

Port Louis in Mauritius and Nairobi in East Africa are among 15 cities on the continent recognised by UNESCO for their commitment to place culture and creativity at the heart of their development and for sharing knowledge and good practices.

Last year Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM) and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) selected Nakuru as a pilot city to map out existing cultural heritage and creative industries to determine the contribution of the industry to the local economy to leverage the UNESCO 2030 Culture Indicators Framework.

According to Thabanja the selection of Nakuru as a pilot city to spearhead the mapping initiative and host the African Cultural Caravan was an affirmation of the influence of culture in the multi-cultural city.

“The inauguration of the caravan in Kenya is being led by M Legacy in partnership with The Drum Cafe Kenya and the county government of Nakuru seeking to promote cultural exchange, unity and cooperation across Africa,” the city manager said.

The caravan, he added will celebrate the continent’s rich heritage through music, dance, art and storytelling highlighting Africa’s diverse traditions while fostering a shared sense of identity and community among its people.

Thabanja welcomed the initiative acknowledging Kenya’s growing cultural influence and reaffirming its role as a leader in driving continental dialogue through the arts.

To achieve the theme and sub-themes of the event, several live performances, exhibitions and symposia have been lined up. Live performance will also include dance and movement, poetry, storytelling, drama and acrobatics, among others. Popular traditional sports on the continent such as bao-ajua, wrestling and African hockey are also on the list.

In light of economic empowerment, the festival has designated an area at the venue where local and visiting artists will showcase their wares such as traditional jewellery, clothing, curios, paintings, sculptures and handcrafts.

Thabanja said the event has been designed to promote cultural tourism as well as safeguard cultural heritage within African countries and provide a platform and opportunities for marketing cultural and creative commodity outputs within the continent and internationally.

“The cultural caravan intends to enhance participants’ knowledge and competencies through workshops and symposia; and provide participants with a platform to showcase their artistic works beyond national borders. It is expected to harmonized traditions, celebrate diversity and highlight the rich cultural tapestry of the African culture whilst reflecting the rich cultural tapestry of the region,” he added.

Team leader of creatives from Uganda Edward Kabuye who led his group on a fact-finding mission ahead of the African Cultural Caravan said the event was a vital step in revitalising cultural practices, promoting tourism and peace and strengthening community bonds across the continent.

Kabuye expressed optimism that the caravan will play a vital role in preserving and promoting Africa’s rich cultural heritage, including both tangible and intangible aspects.

He argued that by fostering dialogue and understanding between different communities, cultural caravans would contribute to conflict resolution and peacebuilding efforts through supporting local economies by showcasing and promoting local crafts, arts, and culinary traditions.

“The caravans create platforms for community participation, allowing individuals to share their stories, experiences, and perspectives,” he elaborated.

Kabuye was happy that the cultural caravan would involve community dialogues, forums and participatory activities to foster interaction and understanding in addition to coming up with awareness campaigns on topics like cultural heritage preservation, environmental sustainability, and peacebuilding.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / B Esther Mwangi and Esther Otieno

Traditional dancers entertain guests during a past cultural event in Nakuru city. (File picture)