Wayne Lumbasi
Donkey races in Kenya will leave you breathless and excited. Donkeys are relatively slow animals compared to horses but this doesn’t matter in small town on Lamu Island, Kenya.
Every year , the sports event attracts thousands of tourists to watch skilled donkeys race against each other.
Lamu is among the oldest inhabited Swahili townships. It once served as one of Africa’s international trading hubs. Donkeys have been cemented in Lamu history from its early days and were increasingly becoming important during the time of trade.
The Kenyan government wanted to preserve the traditional culture of the community and the government banned all cars.
Donkeys became the only form of transport within the town. Around 3000 donkeys can be found on the island, and they are mostly cared for by The Donkey Sanctuary which was opened in 1987 for that purpose.
Donkey racing forms part of the cultural festival held in November. This is a celebration of Lamu culture and History.This festival is one of the best attended community-based cultural festivals in Kenya.
The aim is to promote the rich Swahili culture, and open up the archipelago to outsiders; to promote the beauty of the island’s landscape and the uniqueness of its people.
Riders train for the whole year preparing for the event. They line up at the starting point before getting flagged off. The donkey race involves meandering along the old town challenging the riders on how to tackle different corners in different environments. The donkeys are usually ridden bareback.
The riders control the donkeys with reigns and sticks as also seen in horse racing where whips are used. Donkey racing involves people of all ages without any discrimination.
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