The staging of outstanding talents in cultural diversity, music, arts, and dance is set to take center stage during the Kisumu Arts and Cultural Festival finals, to be graced by Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on June 2- 3 at the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Sports Complex.
The Department of Sports, Culture, Gender, and Youth Affairs organized the annual fete, bringing together artistes with a focus on promoting and celebrating cultural diversity and rewarding young local talents.
The festival started with creative auditions across the eight sub-counties in Lakeside County in May. The targeted performances included visual and performing arts, culinary arts, and traditional African practices by the Luo community.
The County Executive Committee Member in Charge of Sports, Culture, Arts, Gender, and Youth Affairs, Beatrice Odongo, emphasized that the activity would help to identify, nurture, and inspire youths to use their talents to generate income.
“We will conduct a capacity-building session for all the sub-county participants in July to package them to use their talents to make money,” said Odongo, adding that the program is open to all youths wishing to showcase their talents but who failed to take part during the earlier auditions.
Speaking during a press briefing organized on Thursday ahead of the main event, Odongo divulged that the department has lined up a series of events aimed at supporting the budding artistes in the lakeside region to be economically empowered.
Chief Officer for Sports, Culture, and Arts, Timothy Ajwang’ said the event will create an opportunity for emerging talents to interact with local music heroes for mentorship.
“We hope that this annual cultural concert will help in furthering the preservation of culture and developing new talents in Kisumu County,” said Ajwang’.
According to County Creative Committee Chairperson George Chunga, the commencement of the Kisumu County Arts and Cultural Festival ignites the conversation on conducting creative stock-taking, capacity needs assessments, and making the arts a lucrative venture for the artistes to generate income.
By Robert Ojwang’
