President William Ruto is currently gracing the ninth edition of the annual Tobong’u Lore cultural festival which kicked off yesterday in Lodwar, Turkana and will run till Thursday, this week.
The festival “Tobong’u Lore” which in Turkana means ‘welcome back home’ celebrates rich Turkana cultural heritage, promotes peace and unity and cross-border diplomacy especially among communities that have histories of conflict over natural resources.
Among the communities that have been wrangling with the Turkana are Dassanech, Borana, Gabbra, Rendille, El Molo, Sakuye, Somali, Samburu, Wata and Burji.
It also symbolizes a cultural reconnection among the Ateker community- cluster of culturally and linguistically related Nilotic pastoralist groups in East African countries of Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan and Ethiopia.
Though separated by colonial borders, the communities share common ancestry, traditions, dialects and lifestyles.
Among the activities featured during the festival include traditional dances, music, storytelling, food, and cultural exhibitions, reinforcing shared heritage and fostering socio-economic transformation.
This year’s theme is “Cradle of Humanity: Home of Culture- A Journey Through Turkana”.
The tourism event attracts thousands of visitors from neighbouring South Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia and beyond, reinforcing Kenya’s status as a major cultural destination.
Since its inception in 2015, the festival has previously been hosted in Kenya, Ethiopia and for the first time in Soroti, Uganda last year-2024.
Dr Ruto declared the festival a global cultural event last year, positioning Turkana as a leading tourist destination on the national map.
