Lamu town of Kenya celebrated Mawlid with great enthusiasm. Lamu is home to the historic Maulidi celebrations, an integral part of East Africa’s Islamic traditions for over a century.
Maulidi, also known as Milad-un-Nabi, is an Islamic festival observed during the third month of the Muslim calendar (Rabi ul Awwal) to celebrate the birth of the Prophet Mohammed.
Although the Maulidi celebration lasts for an entire month, the most significant period occurs from sunset on the 11th of Rabi al-Awwal to dawn on the 12th, which marks the birth of the Prophet Mohammed according to Sunni traditions.
In Lamu, the final week of Rabi ul Awwal features a four-day festival, running from Tuesday to Friday. Since 1990, the National Museums of Kenya has supported the festival by organizing community-focused competitions such as swimming, dhow races, henna contests, tug-of-war, and donkey races.
Throughout the festival, both in homes and mosques, the people of Lamu recite one of four Maulids: Sharaful-Anam, Maulid ya Dibei (ya Rama), Baranzanji, and Simt-al-Durar (String of Pearls). These Maulids are essentially religious poetry, drawing from the life and history of the Prophet, with references to the Hadith and the Qur’an.
Muslims worldwide bring their own cultural variations to the Maulid recitations. Of all the cities and ports in the region, Lamu is the favored destination for East African Muslims to gather for this special time. The distinct Swahili music, dance, and rituals here set Lamu apart. With its rich cultural heritage, Lamu continues to host the largest Maulidi celebration on the East African coast.
The festivities typically begin in the cooler part of the afternoon, while the primary religious activities take place in and around Riyadha Mosque.
