The Proposed Activities for the Week-Long Naivafest 2016

The two proposed venues for the main activities of Naivafest 2016 are CrayFish Camp and the Sher Stadium. The set up of Naivafest is to have a field filled with tents for exhibitors all giving attention to the main dais where speeches, entertainment, and fashion shows will be on display on different days of the festival. The summary of the different activities in the two venues throughout the week is:

1.    Music Concert

The music concert shall invite local as well as international musicians who have an interest in environmental conservation issues. BDP, alongside other members of the planning committee, are currently in the process of identifying local musicians or music groups who will participate and enhance the entertainment. We are seeking music that will offer the cultural flavor of local genres such as “ohangla”, “isikuti”, and “mugithi” among others. 

2.    Handicraft Exhibitions

Exhibitors of indigenous handicrafts, handicraft producers, virtual artists, especially those with emphasis on conservation of art from communities like the Maasai, Turkana, Samburu, and the Borana Gabra among others.

3.    Traditional Dancers

Traditional dances with dancers adorned in the traditional wear of the represented community shall form a large portion of the entertainment in the course of the week. The festival shall invite dance troupes from Naivasha who shall show the art of Ramogi Dancers, the Luhya Isukuti dance, as well as the Maasai and Turkana dances. Naivafest is open to dance troupes to represent other art in dance from the Mijikenda, Kochia dancers from South Nyanza, Njemps dances from Lake Baringo, Borana dances from Marsabit, and Mwomboko and Mugithi dances of the Kikuyu.

4.    Traditional Cuisine

The food served at various food stalls within the festival grounds shall present samples of the cuisine of Kenyan indigenous people. One day in particular shall be set aside where only traditional dishes shll be served. 

5.    The Naivafest Fashion Show

The main objective of the Nivafest fashion show shall be to shows case the work of designers specializing in African motifs and designs.

Conservation Specific Events at Naivafest

1.    Tree Planting

On one of the days of the activities at Naivafest 2016 shall be a tree planting day with the climax of the day’s events being a ceremonial planting of a tree by the local government representative. The tree planting activities will extend to the wider Nakuru County during and after the Festival with BDP providing tree seedlings to institutions and individuals. This is in tandem with ongoing reforestation initiatives of BDP running within the Naivasha sub-county.

2.    The Naivafest Peace Caravan

The Naivafest activities shall dedicate a day to a mobile Peace Caravan. The caravan will move across commercial centers within Naivasha making strategic stops at the more densely populated centers. The main aim of the caravan is to promote the message of peaceful co-existence among communities. This is especially important as Kenya prepares herself to go into an election year in 2017. 

Other Exciting Activities at Naivafest 2016

• Presentations by poets, motivational speakers, and music groups.
• Boat Regatta on Lake Naivasha
• Flower displays and arrangements to showcase the extensive work of flower farms around the Lake.
• Other fun activities shall be donkey races and tug of war.