Nyeri: Nyeri County is preparing for the annual tourism and cultural festival, slated for May 30-31 this year. The event will culminate in the crowning of Mr. and Miss Nyeri 2025.
According to Kenya News Agency, the county department for Trade Cooperative, Culture and Tourism will soon conduct auditions in seven sub-counties to select talented performers and crafts for the main event. In a poster published on the county website, the department invites residents to audition in various arts, including folk songs, music, comedy, dance, drama, theatre, acrobatics, traditional medicine, and food, starting tomorrow and ending April 14. Those who qualify will showcase their talents and crafts during the main event.
The poster invites Nyeri County residents aged 18 and above to participate in auditions and competitions, promoting participation for those with special needs. The annual fete aims to showcase the Agikuyu community's rich social-cultural heritage through cultural performances, food, and art exhibitions.
During the 2024 celebrations, the County Executive Committee Member for Trade, Cooperatives, Culture and Tourism, Diana Kendi, highlighted the crucial role of the festival in preserving cultural expressions for future generations. At the same time, Kendi stressed the importance of youth participation in such festivals in allowing them to learn about the heritage.
'I was impressed to see the young people marvel at the postcolonial rotary dial phones and landline phones. It made me realize that culture is a continuum. What seems modern to a millennial is already an artefact to the next generation,' she stated. Kendi said that her department will use the festival as a platform for nurturing talent and transferring knowledge and traditions between the older generations to the youth.
Additionally, the county executive noted that the festival will also foster understanding between the old and the young by addressing some of the generational gap issues that often lead to conflict between the different age groups. 'Our primary objective is to create a platform for people of all ages to come together, ensuring older individuals can enjoy and understand the younger generation,' Kendi said.