Kilifi Creek Festival Turns Coastal County into a Thriving Arts and Film Haven
Festival co-founder Zippy Kimundu referred to the festival as a dream come true and a giant step towards decentralizing the creative scene
The festival is a partnership between The Terrace Consortium and YORA – Year of Return Africa and will have the theme. Photo/ Courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
Kilifi, the coastal town, has been transformed into a riot of color, imagination, and culture as the inaugural Kilifi Creek Festival is underway — an entire week-long celebration of film, art, and storytelling that is transforming the county into a kaleidoscope of creative expression.
From October 18 onwards, the festival brings together filmmakers, visual artists, musicians, and locals for seven days of film screening, art exhibitions, fashion shows, and lively debates along the scenic beaches of Kilifi Creek.
Festival co-founder Zippy Kimundu referred to the festival as a dream come true and a giant step towards decentralizing the creative scene of Kenya from major cities like Nairobi and Mombasa. She added that the project is intended to “take art back to nature” and build more community through creativity.
“I’m so proud to co-create this festival in my adopted town,” Zippy stated. “This is the result of tireless effort and teamwork from my other co-founders, Mumo Liku and Saitabao Kaiyare, and the backing of talented artists residing in Kilifi and the YORA Awards. We are collectively placing Kilifi on the map as Kenya’s next emerging hub for film, art, and storytelling.”
The festival is a partnership between The Terrace Consortium and YORA – Year of Return Africa and will have the theme “Water is Memory, Movement, and Magic.” The theme speaks to the deep oceanic connections Kilifi has and how water can be used as a metaphor for creativity, movement, and communal memory.
Over 47 film screenings have been scheduled in some of the creek’s open-air and community spaces, 33 of which are stories of 15 African countries. The festival has also attracted some of Kenya’s most celebrated filmmakers, including Omar Hamza (Sukari), Lydia Matata (Float), Mark Wambui (Mawimbi), and Ng’endo Mukii (Enkai).
To the cultural blend, the world-renowned actor and director Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine is contributing to the festival with his award-winning film Memories of Love Returned that has received international recognition.
In addition to screenings, festival-goers are also becoming engaged in Q&A sessions, workshops, and artist residencies that are inspiring co-production and nurturing up-and-coming talent. Through them, the Kilifi Creek Festival is emerging as a pre-eminent platform for dialogue, inspiration, and cultural exchange.
With its fusion of art, film, and people power, the festival is not only capturing the imagination but also putting Kilifi on the map as a cultural center along Kenya’s coast. The festivities continue through October 18, with greater imagination, bonding, and coastal enchantment to follow.
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