Type On 1 December 2025, the sun rose slowly over the shimmering waters of the Indian Ocean coastline, casting a golden glow on Lamu County and Lamu Island, as the community prepared for a festival unlike any other. This year’s edition held a deeper meaning. It marked not only a celebration of the culture and identity of Lamu residents, but also the close of the five-year AACJ Project.
The annual Lamu Festival is organised by the Lamu Youth Alliance, Radio Lamu, and Natural Justice. It provides an opportunity for the community to showcase the natural and cultural heritage of one of the oldest Swahili settlements. People from Lamu are fishers and farmers, while also earning a livelihood from local tourism. As such, they are vulnerable to climate impacts, as well as the impacts of development, Ports, roads and buildings.
For more than ten years, Natural Justice has supported local residents in their struggle to protect and maintain their local biocultural heritage, and the last five years of the AACJ have been particularly focused on building climate knowledge and resilience.
A journey that has strengthened grassroots climate action and amplified the voices of those safeguarding their environment while learning more about climate Justice every day.
This work found a fitting and beautiful ending at a festival defined by community pride, youthful energy, and the spirit of stewardship.
At the heart of the celebrations was our collaboration with Radio Lamu to run a special Eco Warrior Campaign. The airwaves came alive with stories of courage and persistence as local champions were recognised for upholding the AACJ pathways. These were fishers, farmers, youth leaders, traditional knowledge holders, and everyday residents who chose to protect the land and sea that sustain their lives.
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The campaign placed a special spotlight on the young people of Lamu. The youth, who will inherit the changing coastline and its future, responded with energy and creativity. They called in to the radio station with questions and solutions. Others produced short poems, shared traditional wisdom from their families, or nominated unsung heroes of conservation from their villages. For many, it was their first time hearing their voices on air and knowing that their ideas mattered.
The festival grounds were filled with laughter and vibrant colour, but it was the ocean that drew the biggest crowd. As part of our commitment to stand with the fisherfolk community, Natural Justice sponsored the annual dhow race. The shore was a mosaic of cheering residents, tourists, elders, and children as the majestic vessels carved through the water. The sails rose gracefully against the wind, and the race became more than a competition. It became a celebration of a people whose identity and livelihoods are deeply tied to the ocean.
Sponsoring the dhow race brought greater visibility to community struggles and triumphs. It reminded everyone that sustainable oceans depend on the people who know these waters intimately. The fisherfolk received well-deserved recognition, and many shared heartfelt reflections on their role as guardians of the sea. One elder said softly that even when the world forgets the importance of the ocean, the dhow race reminds them of who they are.
Throughout the festival, there was a spirit of gratitude and pride. The closing of the AACJ project provided a moment of reflection. Community members expressed appreciation for gaining knowledge on their rights, strengthening their governance structures, and building new pathways for climate resilience. Youth leaders pledged to continue raising their voices. Fisherfolk promised to defend the marine environment. Women’s groups celebrated their growing involvement in local advocacy.
As the drums quieted and the final dhow returned to shore, the festival left a deep sense of hope. Lamu had shown once again that real change begins with the people. The stories shared on Radio Lamu, the champions honoured during the Eco Warrior Campaign, and the pride of the fisherfolk on the ocean all pointed to a simple truth. When communities are supported, trusted, and celebrated, they lead with wisdom and courage.
Under the warm coastal sky, the community carried forward the spirit of justice and care for the environment. And as the tides shifted with the evening breeze, one thing was clear. Lamu will continue to rise as a beacon of cultural strength, environmental pride, and resilient leadership for generations to come. / to choose a block
