Celebrating Our Donkeys, Celebrating Our Culture at Lamu Festival 2024

This year, The Donkey Sanctuary is proud to participate in the Lamu Cultural Festival, celebrating the indispensable working donkeys of Lamu, who embody the County’s history, economy, and resilience.

Running from 29th November to 1st December 2024, this vibrant annual festival showcases the region’s rich Swahili heritage through dhow races, Swahili cuisine, bao games, henna painting, cultural performances, and craft exhibitions. Yet, amidst all the festivities, one figure truly stands out: the donkey. 

In recognition of these remarkable animals, The Donkey Sanctuary is hosting a series of music and drama events during the festival under the theme: “Celebrating Our Donkeys Is Celebrating Our Culture.” These performances aim to highlight the critical role donkeys play in supporting daily life while advocating for their welfare. After all, what is Lamu without its donkeys.

Donkeys have long been central to Lamu’s culture, famously participating in the festival’s popular donkey racing events. However, their vital role in daily life often goes unnoticed. From pulling carts laden with stones vital for construction on Manda Island to transporting goods and people on Lamu Island, donkeys are the backbone of the community. They deliver water to rural households and provide companionship to countless families. As Mr. Somo, a proud donkey owner from Mkomani, puts it, “Donkeys built this town, and we live by the donkey.” Mr. Abubakar, from Kashmir in Lamu, adds, “Donkeys provide us with our daily needs and give us our heritage.”


For over 35 years, The Donkey Sanctuary has been a cornerstone of support for Lamu’s donkeys. Through its free veterinary clinic on Lamu Island, the organisation handles over 3,000 cases annually, providing vital healthcare, advocacy, and education to ensure these hardworking animals remain healthy and cared for.

As we come together to revel in Lamu’s rich traditions and cultural heritage, let’s also honour the donkeys—these tireless, unsung heroes whose contributions are woven into the very fabric of the community. Because celebrating our donkeys truly means celebrating our culture.


The Donkey Sanctuary is an international animal welfare charity dedicated to improving the lives of donkeys and mules worldwide. We provide lifelong care to over 7,000 donkeys in the UK and Europe, and reach many more globally through our international programmes and partnerships. Our colleagues are based all over the world and we work with a global network of partners, NGOs and governments, who share our vision of a world where every donkey has a good quality of life.  

The Donkey Sanctuary has been working in Kenya since 1987, where our mission remains to improve the welfare of donkeys and, in doing so, help safeguard the livelihood of millions of people who depend on donkeys for their everyday sustenance.   

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