Donkey racing: A cherished tradition in Lamu's Swahili community

In the vibrant archipelago of Lamu, donkeys play a vital role in the lives of the Swahili community. Beyond their usual functions as a means of transport, these remarkable animals have also become an integral part of local sporting events.

Donkey races have become a cherished tradition, with every celebration in the region featuring this thrilling competition.

The donkey's owners begin their preparations as soon as the competition's date is announced. The preparations involve careful separation of the donkeys set to participate in the competition.

These racing donkeys are only brought out from the secluded areas for practice sessions at night. This is done to ensure clarity and minimize confusion during the race.

Recently, I had the opportunity to accompany one of the competitors, Ali Salim to his boma—a place where Sniper, his donkey, is kept. Sniper, a seasoned participant in the races, is 16 years old and has participated in several races.

With an upcoming Mawlid Festival, where the donkey racing competition is scheduled, on the horizon, Ali Salim is diligently ensuring Sniper's physical health is in optimal condition ahead of the game.

''Mawlid Festival is one of the toughest races. Donkeys that come to compete in this festival come as far as Faza, so I have to ensure Sniper is in good physical health, '' Ali said.

Speaking on these donkey races, the Donkeys Owners Association of Lamu representative, Fahmi Chapa says that this rich cultural heritage brings the community together, as well as, showcases their deep connection with these animals.

“The races usually take three to four rounds with semi-finalists set to compete in the final where they run for a distance of 700 meters on the seafront,” Fahmi said.

Other than being a sporting activity, Lamu County’s Tourism CEC Aisha Miraj says that his competitions have also become a tourist attraction in the region.

“Since these races only happen in Lamu, they attract tourists from every part of the world,” Aisha said.

With the races becoming popular in Lamu, its participants now want the county government to help them form clubs to organize tournaments in every part of Lamu. According to them, this initiative will keep the youths from the region active and avoid misuse of drugs.

On the other side, Lamu Donkey Sanctuary has raised concerns over the welfare of the donkeys involved in the races.

Dr Obadia Sing’oi, a veterinarian from the sanctuary, highlights that the races are conducted on a paved road surface, which is not suitable for the donkeys. He further notes that the donkeys that race often suffer muscle-related illnesses and wounds on their backs due to the whipping they get during the competition.

''As an animal welfare organization, we don't advocate for these races, but if at all they have to happen, they need to be done on a very soft surface because surfaces paved with cabro cause a lot of health implications for the animal,” Obadia said.