Uniting Community, Conservation & The Next Generation: Bahari Yetu Festival 2025

9th October 2025 wasn't business as usual in Shela - Lamu County. We had over 400 people in one venue, in honour of our ocean. For 4 years now, we have set aside time to celebrate our ocean, have fun and learn from each other. It was particularly different this year because unlike Bahari Yetu Festival 2024, this year we had 2 days combined in one, with 310 students having ocean-themed fun at the beach and over 100 members of the community gathered for ocean talk and entertainment. 

The day started off with a blessing: light rains to cleanse all intentions of the day. As arrival, registration and stalls’ setup commenced, we had the famous Lamu Msondo dance performed by men of Shela, officiating the opening of Bahari Yetu Festival 2025!

Ocean-Themed Fun for Kids

Similar to Watoto Day 2024, we had games at the beach, except this time the kids couldn’t help but show off their new school flags. Led by the ever entertaining Anidan Art Centre drummers, students left for the beach to take part in the following competitions.

• Swimming Competition - a fun way to foster a relationship with the ocean.

• Zidau ya Mwau - The model dhow race that propagates the Lamu dhow racing culture as well as encourages kids to recycle since the model dhows are made from recycled material.

• Magari ya Miti - A car race that promotes sustainable innovation as the model cars are made from recyclable material.

• Sand Sculpture - A great way to encourage creativity, attention to detail  and curiosity in what sea animals look like. 

Meanwhile, the community got a chance to view all art pieces presented by the students, and vote on the best one. Under the supervision of school patrons, environmental kindness clubs in attendance had created 3D art pieces prior, representing some or all of the following guiding factors;

1. What a healthy or unhealthy marine ecosystem looks like.

2. Impacts of human activities on the ocean.

3. What we can do to protect marine ecosystems. 

The art competition not only brings out creativity in the kids but also sparks curiosity, making them research and understand what their ocean represents.

Conservation Talks with Community

Have you ever played a game of charades with a crowd of over 100 people? We have, and it was really competitive. We divided them into two groups and had them do impressions of someone snorkeling, another saving an entangled drowning sea turtle, and more, as the group members guessed what’s happening. 

Then came the much awaited fisherfolk panel, consisting of respected fishermen in the community, who are also cooperative in surrendering daily fish catch data. It is a session that got us gaining even more respect for indigenous science. We will be unpacking fascinating details of the fisherfolk panel in our next blog, so subscribe to our mailing list and stay tuned!

Leaders of Beach Management Units (BMUs) got a chance to share their 'glows and growths' in ecosystem management, inspiring fellow leaders as they learned from each other’s improvement points.

Celebrating Community, Culture and Conservation

Before crowning the day with awards for competition champions and outstanding members of society in waste management, data collection and sea turtle conservation, we were thoroughly entertained. As melodious taarab songs accompanied our lunch, kids performed traditional dances, and ocean-themed poems and plays. Community members  also presented role plays communicating BMU governance and ocean conservation messages. 

Bahari Yetu Festival not only provided a platform for community members to network and have fun; it was educative as well. We partnered with local organizations and groups in attendance at the stalls to showcase sustainable alternative livelihoods, marine conservation practices, and encourage ocean access. We celebrated citizen science and the coastal community culture. Stay tuned for upcoming blogs for the full details. 

Written by Evelyn Kimori