Prominent Kenyan comedian and content creator, Eddie Butita, has issued a heartfelt plea to the Luhya community, urging them to consolidate their numerous smaller cultural events into one grand, unified festival.
This call comes in the wake of the highly successful Luo Festival, which captivated audiences recently.
A Call for Unity Amidst Fragmented Celebrations
Butita, in an Instagram video, openly expressed his resignation, stating, “I think at this point nimekubali unity ya Waluya haitawahi fanyika anytime soon.”
He lamented the community’s tendency to host multiple, smaller events instead of focusing efforts on a single, powerful gathering.
He highlighted a perceived abundance of festivals, mentioning examples such as Vulala Festival, Mabega Festival, Amakuru Festival, and other small festivals.
Butita questioned this proliferation, asking, “kwani hatuwezi kuwa na event moja tu kali kubwa? Festival kubwa hatujawa hata kuwa na moja successful vizuri.”
He conveyed a sense that every individual within the community seems to have their “own small festival,” despite his respect for the organisers. He implored them to instead work towards one major event.
Sol Fest: A Blueprint for Success?
However, Butita did acknowledge one notable exception: Sol Fest. He referred to it as an event that is “theirs” and already a “big event”.
Sol Fest is widely recognised as a significant music and cultural festival, famously associated with the popular Kenyan boy band Sauti Sol.
A majority of Sauti Sol’s original members hail from the Luhya community, which likely forms the basis for Butita’s assertion that Soulfest is a “Luhya festival.”
Butita suggested that if another large event were planned, it should bring people together.
Learning from Other Communities
The recent Luo Festival gained considerable attention for its successful execution and large turnout, possibly serving as an inspiration for Butita’s vision of a cohesive, large-scale community event.
Similarly, Dr. Ofweneke, another prominent comedian, has been involved in promoting Luhya culture through initiatives like the Isikuti Festival, demonstrating the community’s appetite for cultural celebrations, albeit often through various distinct events.
The Path to a Unified Vision
Butita believes that by focusing their collective energy, the Luhya community could build upon existing successes like Sol Fest.
His core message is a desire to add “just one more” combined event where people can come together, rather than continuing with a multitude of fragmented celebrations.
by moses sagwe
