Rusinga Festival
Culture abasuba — Lake Victoria · Rusinga Island, Kenya
The festival
On Rusinga Island, in the waters of Lake Victoria (Homa Bay County), the Rusinga Festival is a great place for the culture of the Abasuba: music, fashion, film, traditional cuisine, crafts, literature, traditional sports and boat races. The event, which takes place every year on the last Thursday and Friday before Christmas, has become the leading force in the revival of the suba language, classified in danger by UNESCO: the elders teach the language and knowledge to the younger generations, between tales, songs and poetry.
Its 14th edition was held on December 18 and 19, 2025. From the island, festivalgoers extend the discovery to Tom Mboya's mausoleum and the nearby Ruma National Park.
Good to know
The festival is held on the last Thursday and Friday before Christmas. Rusinga Island, connected to the continent by a bridge, is joined from Homa Bay; Tom Mboya Mausoleum and Ruma National Park are the natural extensions of the stay.