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Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya

Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2017.

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Other Authors: Boonzaaier, C.C.
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2017
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Boonzaaier, C.C.
author_browse Boonzaaier, C.C.
author_facet Boonzaaier, C.C.
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2017 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2017.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:36:24.202Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2017
publishDateRange 2017
publishDateSort 2017
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/62642 Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya Boonzaaier, C.C. m.kahuno@gmail.com Kahuno, Maryanne Njeri UCTD Indigenous communities Lamu Cultural Festival Cultural values and practices Bajuni Dissertation (MHCS)--University of Pretoria, 2017. Cultural festivals have become a prominent topic of research because of their socio-economic value. However, thus far, limited research has been conducted on the more profound issue of the possible contribution of festivals towards constructing a cultural identity. The aim of this study was therefore to determine the role that one particular festival, the Lamu Cultural Festival, plays in constructing cultural identity, particularly when people from different cultural backgrounds are involved. Lamu in Kenya was chosen as the study area, due to its rich and unique cultural heritage, with the main aim of investigating whether the Lamu Cultural Festival is helping to preserve the cultural heritage of this area and/or to create a new Lamu identity. An anthropological approach was used to conduct the study on cultural identity. The research was conducted on the 14th annual Cultural Festival in Lamu, where the festival has taken place since 2001, after the Island was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The best way to understand another culture is to experience it first-hand by travelling to the destination, hence the use of participant observation for data collection. The dissertation looks at various debates regarding identity construction through cultural festivals. It also investigates the development of festival literature, festival tourism and the history of festivals. Cultural practices among the Aweer, the Bajuni, the Sanye and the Orma in Lamu, and these people's sense of cultural identity before the introduction of the Lamu Cultural Festival are also assessed, in order to understand the respective senses of cultural identity of these four indigenous groups involved in the festival. The Lamu Cultural Festival itself is also discussed in detail: the planning process, stakeholders and organisers, people's motivations for participating in the festival, festival items and their composition. The research findings may assist festival organisers in achieving a better understanding of the importance of involving indigenous communities in the planning process and possibly in achieving a Lamu identity over time. Historical and Heritage Studies MHCS Unrestricted 2017-10-11T11:55:43Z 2017-10-11T11:55:43Z 2017-09-06 2017 Dissertation Kahuno, MN 2017, Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya, MHCS Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/62642> S2017 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/62642 en © 2017 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Indigenous communities
Lamu Cultural Festival
Cultural values and practices
Bajuni
Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya
title Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya
title_full Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya
title_fullStr Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya
title_short Constructing identity through festivals: The case of Lamu Cultural Festival in Kenya
title_sort constructing identity through festivals the case of lamu cultural festival in kenya
topic UCTD
Indigenous communities
Lamu Cultural Festival
Cultural values and practices
Bajuni
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/62642