Kanda La Ziwa Creative Camp residency seeks to implement a pre-Festac festival collaboration in curating artistic expressions with local and regional lakeside artists. Working closely to share knowledge with creatives from the rest of the East African region and the world. NAAM Festival running the #JusticeforLakeVictoria arts advocacy campaign attracts about 2,500 guests in its festival events in Kisumu over 2-3days. This year will see a Festival within a Festival showcase and execute a lakeside creative camp dubbed Kanda La Ziwa to co-create installations and cultural experiences at the lakeside city for the Africa week/day as pre FESTAC Africa events. Great synergies expected in several areas between artists, events practitioners, thought leaders, students, artivists, film makers, journalists and the oldest festival in Africa. A Pan-African festival platform that rekindles spirit of unity, celebrating diversity, and pays homage to Africa’s past, present and future.
FESTAC – A Pan African festival of arts and culture seeks to unite black people and Africans from all over the world to proudly share in the uniqueness through art, Music, Dance, Fashion, Food, Culture, Heritage and Storytelling is docking in the port city of Kisumu August 2024. Partnering with Dunga Hill Camp – The world-famous green events and entertainment spot on the shores of Lake Victoria and the Lakeside Peoples Meeting (Kanda La Ziwa) – NAAM Festival. Lake Victoria is a unity symbol of Africa. Kisumu regional meeting point is yet to experience an enthralling cultural extravaganza and a creative public therapy.
We aim to promote Cultural Best Practices, Research for Africa Cultural Diversity, Showcase Diaspora Talent and Festivals Diversity, Bring Black People Together and Celebrate The African Day/Week (May 20 – 25th) through Art and Speakers Panels.
The Dunga Hill Experience and NAAM festival gigs during the Kanda La Ziwa artists master classes have been supported by the Goethe Institute, Strathmore University Business School program for Kenya Small Business Development Centre, Musicians Union Nyanza Branch, Lake Hub and Kisumu My Pride.
Featuring artists include Felicity Mudis (KSM), Makadem (Expert Artists-KE), Liboi (NBO), Pungulu Pangala Story teller (KSM), Orato Visual Artist (KSM) among other upcoming artists from the port city.
• Kanda La Ziwa, Kisumu Got Talent artists camp from 15th to 23rd May with visual and performing artists co-creating public art installation and stage showcase of a new Lake/Kisumu City anthem. This is a residency program mounted at Dunga Hill Camp for both musicians and visual artists will lead to public showcasing during the Africa Day and Dunga Hill Experience.
• Open studios for creatives to showcase and share experiences through organized status-free dialogue platforms in the week leading to Africa Week/Day, during and even after the ground activities through collective digital platforms to discuss issues affecting the creative economy and solutions along with promotion of local culture and decolonization of Lake Victoria.
• Film Screenings and hybrid discussions in collaboration with DocuBox at the residency and the Africa week for Pan Africanism discussions featuring Kisumu’s Utalii College, KEMFRI and Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University students and professors/lecturers.
• Crew and Local artists media tours for interviews with key organizers and appearances at Urban Radio, Lolwe TV/Radio, KalaTV and East Africa Blog Sites etc
One of the artists in residency acknowledging the impact of this artists program states: “Art is a soft but powerful tool that speaks truth to power and the hearts of the masses while employing millions of youth in the creative economy. Through creative activism we are able to lower the barriers to change and beat poor governance issues, equality, environmental and social injustices while preserving our culture and identity.” Sharon Liboi – Musician
Another highlight of the campaign will be an interactive environmental workshop on sustainable collection of waste during clean ups. It will train participants on how to segregate waste and establish collection stations.
Another highlight of the campaign will be an interactive environmental workshop on sustainable collection of waste during clean ups. It will train participants on how to segregate waste and establish collection stations. “Human beings are destroying The Nyanza Lake Sango known as Victoria due to colonization. We must shift our business in this Planet from PROFIT to PROSPERITY in order to conserve our Lake and the symbol of unity in the region. We believe its protection is a pathway to a United Africa because it powers 11 basin countries with a population of about 440 million people from Uganda to Egypt via the Nile.” Dave Ojay the director and curator of Kanda La Ziwa Residency. The residency was launched and flagged off by the CECM Culture and Sports Mrs Beatrice Odongo and in attendance the FESTAC Chairman Eng Yinka Aboiye among other guests.
