Preparations for the second Kilumi Festival happening at the AKamba Cultural Center at Emali, Photo by Mutune wa Ngumu. 
By Mutune wa Ngumu.
The Akamba community has been urged to embrace and preserve its cultural heritage amid growing concerns that many traditional practices are gradually fading away.
Speaking during preparations for the second Kilumi Festival, Akamba senior elder Mutuku Muindi said the community must reconnect with its cultural roots and safeguard indigenous knowledge for the benefit of future generations.
Muindi, who is also the founder of the Akamba Cultural Centre and Museum, said the upcoming international festival will bring together cultural practitioners from Kitui, Machakos, and Makueni counties to showcase traditional Akamba dances that are at risk of disappearing.
He explained that the festival will serve two key purposes — celebrating the dances and documenting them for posterity.
“We are going to hold the second international Kilumi Festival which will bring together practitioners from Kitui, Machakos and Makueni. They will be showcasing endangered dances of the Akamba people,” said Muindi.
According to him, the initiative will also focus on recording and digitizing the performances so that future generations can learn about and appreciate the traditional dances.
“We want to showcase these dances and also record them for posterity so that future generations can see how they were performed,” he added.
Muindi noted that April will be a busy month for organizers as preparations intensify for the festival, which is being supported by the British Council through the Cultural Protection Fund.
He described the partnership as a major milestone, noting that it is the first time the fund is supporting a project in Africa aimed at digitizing cultural artifacts from a specific community.
Muindi said one of the biggest achievements of the Akamba Cultural Centre since its establishment in 2018 has been encouraging members of the community to appreciate and reconnect with their cultural identity.
“When we opened the centre in 2018, there was a growing demand for traditional dances. That is when we started the Akamba Dance Troupe to specifically perform traditional dances,” he explained.
Since its formation, the dance troupe has been invited to perform at numerous events including weddings, national symposiums, and official functions.
Muindi revealed that the group has also performed at graduations organized by the Kenya Defence Forces on three different occasions.
He expressed optimism that the Kilumi Festival will not only revive interest in Akamba traditions but also create opportunities for the community to preserve and benefit from its cultural heritage.
The festival is expected to attract cultural practitioners, researchers, and members of the public interested in learning more about the traditions and dances of the Akamba people.
