Tourism having been identified as one of the primary growth areas in the East African countries economies today, the Sebei cultural center wishes to promote culture, tourism and sports using this annual festival. The Sabiny Tribe (Sebei) are part of the Kalenjin ethnic community (Kalenjin Nation) living on the northern and north-western slopes of Mount Elgon, and on the plains below, in eastern Ug
anda. Over the years, the Sabiny/Kalenjin community have evolved and succumbed to modern civilization but never the less preserved and still practice their treasured culture passionately except a few unhealthy specific norms like female circumcision (FGM) among others. A lot has changed in the way of life for the Sabiny/Kalenjin community more so in housing, dressing, foods, marriage, and social economic setting. Following their traditional heritage of hunting while running, the Sabiny/ Kalenjin community have evolved and adopted running as a sport. Instead of hunting wild game in their adventurous surrounding nature, they started hunting for Gold medals in all major international athletics arenas across the globe. Today, they are very successful and holding world titles in their respective races hence flying flags of their respective countries very high. Among distinguished world class athletic champions from sabiny/Kalenjin community are; Stephen Kiprotich (London world Olympic marathon champion), Kiprop Jackson (India marathon champion),Moses Kipsiro (common wealth 10,000 km and 5,000 km champion), Cheptegei Joshua (Oregon marathon junior champion) and many others for Uganda and Paul Terikat, Moses Tanui, Tegla Lorupe and many others for Kenya. Sebei sub-region and the entire vast Kalenjin land is well endowed with great sports talent and tourism potential, ie The Great Rift Valley, Mt Elgon forest(both in Kenya and Uganda), Lake Bugoria in Baringo Kenya and in Uganda; Sipi waterfalls, Mt Elgon forest, tourism sports(Rock climbing, upseiling, paragliding, zip lines ) and caves beside an adrenaline rising scenery ,not to mention the new Sebei Cultural center that, if, blended with an amazing Sabiny/Kalenjin community tours and marketed, can create a huge tourism resource. In the face of unemployment challenge and struggling economies, we hope to tab into the tourism resource with courage and enthusiasm of the sabiny/Kalenjin people and create employment opportunities for the youth and the community at large, directly and indirectly. It is for the above reasons that the Sabiny people, the entire Kalenjin community and friends from across the globe come together as one people to celebrate the sabiny/Kalenjin culture, so unique and rich, Sabiny/Kalenjin culture always did and still promote healthy living, friendship, harmony, peace, respect and brought people together. The Kalenjin Cultural Festival is aimed at promoting togetherness, peace, harmony, Tourism, sports, good cultural practices and at the same time discouraging harmful cultural practices but above all create opportunities for young people and the community through sports and Tourism as we showcase our cultural practices before and present.
