Pomp, colour as Lamu youth take part in unique donkey race

Thousands of Lamu Island residents and visitors turned out to witness the donkey race during the Lamu Cultural Festival.

The competition showcases donkeys' speed along the seafront and riders as young as 11 years control the animals.

Abdulswammad Bakari and Mohammed Fuad won the donkey race.

Donkeys are the major means of transport within the islands and are part of the rich ancient history of Lamu.

This year's festival was organised by the Lamu government and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi attended the festival.

Security was tight, with police, Lamu county enforcement officers and volunteers keeping guard along the seafront road.

Tourists, local and foreigners, turned up and joined residents in witnessing the race,

In an interview, Fuad, 13, said he was happy to win the donkey race despite the fact that he was the last at the beginning of the race. 

Asked about the secret to winning, the Grade 6 pupil from Kizingitini Island in Lamu East said he practices racing in his home village and feeds the donkey well.

"The donkey is physically fit and can run very fast. He is called Janky and is eight years old," he said.

Feisal Shellali, the owner of Bakari's donkey, could not hide his joy after the victory. He said his donkey is called Jiangree.

"I first came with another donkey called Shammath and emerged second but now Jiangree has won and is the top in Lamu," he said.

He said the money received from the win will be used to buy a young donkey for his rider as the victory has been made possible by his expertise in riding the donkey during the race.

Bakari said his donkey called Rizla from Pate Island, began the race as fourth but managed to overtake the others on the way and won on their way back.

He said his donkey practices  for one day and rests for the next two days. He said he will use the prize cash to buy food for the donkey.

The main sponsors of the donkey race were Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport and Fly Skyward express who gave prizes to the winners and ensured every participant had a T-shirt.

Captain Mohamed Abdi, the chairman of Skyward Express, said they sponsored the donkey race because it is a unique sport.

"It is unique to Lamu and the people here relate to the donkey races more than any other race," Abdi said.

He said it is not the first time they have taken part in the Lamu annual festival, but they took break for the last three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Abdi thanked Governor Issa Timamy for reviving the races.

Lapsset regional manager Salim Bunu said they were celebrating the rich cultural heritage of Lamu, which is also a World Heritage Site.

The town was listed as a World Heritage site in 2001 owing to its well-preserved culture and heritage spanning decades.

It is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa, retaining its traditional functions.

"As Lapsset, we thought it was very important for us to be part of the sponsors of this festival because we must integrate development and culture," Bunu said.

Apart from the donkey race, there were lots of other activities and exhibitions such as the dhow race, swimming competition, food exhibition among many other activities and entertainment from all the cultural groups.