The Art of Swahili Dhow Racing II
Swahili racing teams come together several times a year to compete in traditional hand-crafted, arabic-styled Mashua dhows in the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya's northern Swahili Coast.
Intense village rivalries build over the years, often reaching pitch fever on race day. The winners will return with team bragging rights and a certain village swagger that may last several months until the next race.
These four magnificent racing dhows are in near-perfect formation, positioned towards the noonday equator sun on the first day of the New Year.
They are in the lead as they prepare to tack around the buoy (top left) and change course, back again to the starting point at Shela, a small Swahili fishing settlement on the island of Lamu. Several dhows capsized at this challenging point in the race.
The finest dhows are selected from each village to compete and race under sail through a complicated series of buoys, combining speed and balance with elaborate tacking and maneuvering competence.
About sixteen young men are crowded together into each of these hand-crafted dhows to give the necessary weight, balance, and stability against a stiff coastal wind.
The art of Swahili dhow racing requires considerable team skill as the dhows manoeuvre back and forth through the Manda channel and ultimately out to the edge of the open sea.
The races are usually organized in conjunction with a cultural festival or an Islamic religious holiday. This particular race and celebration of Swahili dhow culture is held yearly on New Year’s Day and is based in Shela, a small Swahili fishing settlement on the island of Lamu.
© All rights to these photos and descriptions are reserved. expl#49
The Art of Swahili Dhow Racing II
Swahili racing teams come together several times a year to compete in traditional hand-crafted, arabic-styled Mashua dhows in the Lamu Archipelago off Kenya's northern Swahili Coast.
Intense village rivalries build over the years, often reaching pitch fever on race day. The winners will return with team bragging rights and a certain village swagger that may last several months until the next race.
These four magnificent racing dhows are in near-perfect formation, positioned towards the noonday equator sun on the first day of the New Year.
They are in the lead as they prepare to tack around the buoy (top left) and change course, back again to the starting point at Shela, a small Swahili fishing settlement on the island of Lamu. Several dhows capsized at this challenging point in the race.
The finest dhows are selected from each village to compete and race under sail through a complicated series of buoys, combining speed and balance with elaborate tacking and maneuvering competence.
About sixteen young men are crowded together into each of these hand-crafted dhows to give the necessary weight, balance, and stability against a stiff coastal wind.
The art of Swahili dhow racing requires considerable team skill as the dhows manoeuvre back and forth through the Manda channel and ultimately out to the edge of the open sea.
The races are usually organized in conjunction with a cultural festival or an Islamic religious holiday. This particular race and celebration of Swahili dhow culture is held yearly on New Year’s Day and is based in Shela, a small Swahili fishing settlement on the island of Lamu.
© All rights to these photos and descriptions are reserved. expl#49