Busia County is set to host a historic cultural extravaganza this December, following a groundbreaking partnership between Dr. Yusuf Noah, popularly known as Refight Heviweit, founder of the Sabala Cultural Festival, and His Excellency Hon. Dr. Paul Otuoma, Governor of Busia County.
The two leaders met this week at the Governor’s office to discuss plans for Sabala Fest International 2025, themed “Sabala at The Border – 254 Meets 256.”
The event, scheduled for December 6, 2025, marks the first time the renowned Sabala Festival will be held outside Nairobi, symbolizing a powerful step in expanding its reach and strengthening cross-border ties.
Dr. Yusuf Noah described the partnership as “a monumental moment” in the festival’s history, noting that Busia—sitting at the gateway between Kenya (254) and Uganda (256), is the perfect stage for celebrating Nubian heritage and fostering cultural unity across borders.
“This monumental event marks the first time the Sabala Festival will be held outside Nairobi. It will be a vibrant celebration of Kenyan and Ugandan Nubian culture, bringing together communities from both sides of the border,” said Dr. Noah.
The week-long lead-up to the festival will feature a wide range of community-driven activities, including:
Donation drives for Pampers and sanitary products to support young mothers and girls
Clean-up initiatives aimed at promoting environmental awareness
Medical camps to offer healthcare services to residents
The Culture Cup, an exciting football tournament featuring Kenyan and Ugandan champions, with the winner crowned East Africa Champion.
"The event will be a truly binational celebration, with activities taking place in both Kenya and Uganda. The Governor's office has demonstrated its commitment to the festival's success by waiving all licenses for advertisements and assembling a dedicated team to work closely with the Sabala Fest team," Dr. Yusuf Noah said.
Governor Otuoma affirmed Busia County’s full commitment to the success of the event, announcing that his administration will waive advertising licenses and assign a dedicated county team to support festival preparations.
“The annual festival is a vibrant celebration of Nubian culture, bringing together thousands from across Western Kenya and beyond. This year, beyond culture, we are also embedding social impact—medical camps, clean-up exercises, football tournaments, and training sessions for young artists. It will be a week-long celebration culminating on December 6th, a platform to embrace and promote our cultural diversity,” Governor Otuoma said.
The planning meeting was attended by several senior county officials, including County Secretary Oscar Juma, Chief of Staff Sanya Mutanda, Chief Officer for Sanitation Dr. Susan Outa, and Chief Officer for Sports and Creative Arts Dennis Ngira.
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As the biggest cultural festival in Africa, Sabala Fest International is expected to attract thousands of participants from Kenya, Uganda, and beyond, offering a unique blend of music, dance, sports, heritage showcases, and community empowerment.
With the theme “Sabala at The Border – 254 Meets 256,” the festival is set to transform Busia into a cultural hub, shining a spotlight on Nubian heritage while reinforcing the spirit of unity, collaboration, and pride in African identity.
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