The Sawa Sawa Festival, organized by Sarakasi and held during the Madaraka week, has attracted audiences of over 120,000 people (2010) and due to excellent media campaigns, relations and partnerships, millions of others have been reached through PR campaigns and live radio and TV broadcasts. The Festival is usually extensively covered by other (not contracted) media as well.

Sarakasi Trust initiated the concept of the annual Sawa Sawa Festival to create a unique festival with a unique and African identity appealing to the Kenyan public at large while at the same time creating an opportunity to reach out to audiences across age, gender, cultural and economical back grounds. Sawa Sawa aims to promote the performing arts through workshops, meet the artist sessions, technical skill and cultural sharing workshops, community building (theme) activities, media activations and the multi stage multi day concerts.

Through the years the lineup has seen international headlining artists like Hugh Masekela, the Mahotella Queens (all from South Africa), Baaba Maal (Senegal), Burning Spear, Black Uhuru and Don Carlos (all from Jamaica). Other international artists hailed from India, Brazil, Benin, Mexico, the Netherlands, the USA and Cuba. Local stars gracing the festival were, amongst others, Ayub Ogada, Harry Kimani, Eric Wainaina, Atemi, Iddi Achieng, Makadem, Kanji Mbugua, Bad man Kollege and General Onyx. Three international TV documentaries have been made and the Festival has been broadcasted (live) on several radio and TV stations every year.

Last but not least, always at hand to spice up the event are the Sarakasi All Stars, showcasing the best in acrobatics and dance. Sarakasi’s projects like Wapi, Amani Lazima, the Hospital Project and others are each year involved in the festival as well. Being a family event, lots of fun activities for kids are planned as well as ample catering and parking in a safe and secure environment.