KISIMA FESTIVAL PRACTITIONERS

Boniface Mwangi

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We are in deep gratitude to welcome Boniface Mwangi to Kisima Festival. 

Boniface Mwangi is a Change Maker and Leader who has spent his life fighting for justice for the ordinary mwananchi (citizen). He is one of the most vocal and courageous Kenyans of our generation.

Recognized globally for his passion and excellence in photography, this photographer-cum-activist could not resist the call to activism after witnessing, first-hand, the brutality that disadvantaged Kenyans experienced in the wake of the Post- Election Violence of 2008. He then established Picha Mtaani, a traveling photography exhibition.

At Kisima Festival, Boniface will be curating a photographic installation; a self reflective active citizen space. This installation invites participants to reflect on what the image stirs in them, and then contemplate action points which may be supportive to their community.

Kisima Festival will be welcoming activists to connect with the well-being dialogue, and vice- versa.  Participants can expect to experience fireside chats, circles and songs of freedom.

Fareed Diamond Khimani

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We have the pleasure of welcoming Fareed to Kisima festival.

Fareed is an award winning director and producer.  He was previously a sports presenter at Capital FM, presenter at Capital Morning Breakfast, presenter of Big Brother Africa, host of Mnet’s Studio 53 and founder of  Nusu-Nusu Productions.
Among his many accolades, his bravest role has been as a mental health advocate and substance abuse counselor.

Healing and Addiction

He is vocal about his journey to sobriety and helping others who are needing help with battling addictions to substances. He is joining Kisima Festival hosting a dynamic session about overcoming addiction. We welcome you as you are to this brave space.

Nazizi Hirji

nazizi

We are thrilled that Nazizi will be  joining Kisima Festival.

Nazizi is a Musician and radio host. She is a pioneering figure in the East African music scene, and has a career spanning over two decades. She first gained prominence as a member of the group Necessary Noize, alongside Wyre and Bamzigi, creating some of Kenya’s most iconic hits, including “Kenyan Girl, Kenyan Boy” and “Bless My Room.”

Her music is characterized by socially conscious lyrics, blending personal experiences with broader societal issues. In addition to her work with Necessary Noize, she was also part of the East African Bashment Crew.

Nazizi is the host of the Roots Diary podcast, which details per personal journey into stardom. Perhaps her most foundational role has been that of a mother to two beautiful sons.

Nazizi will be hosting a grief tending circle. Welcome to unite in this shared journey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heather Gordon Athie

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Wim Hof Method

This event is the full Wim Hof Method experience! Participants will learn about the three pillars of the Wim Hof Method; Conscious Breathwork, Cold Therapy and Mindset & Commitment!  

Participants will go full pelt with an exhilarating ice immersion, and powerful breathwork, led by Kenya’s only certified Wim Hof Method Instructor!

About Heather

Heather is a certified Level 3 Wim Hof Method Instructor, the only certified instructor in Kenya! She runs expeditions and retreats with Wim himself, and teacher training with the Innerfire Academy. She is also a  Mental Resilience Trainer, Somatic Yoga Teacher and Nutritional Health coach.  She is passionate about helping others to lead dynamic, healthy and happy lives  and is highly engaging in her teaching style.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anne & Reginah

Saddy Aerial Silk

Aerial Silks

Fly through the sky and connect mind and body!

Why aerial silks?

It’s more than just exercise
Aerial arts classes are about slowly gearing your body up to pull off the spectacular moves you might see in a circus, which can take weeks or even months to master. Weight loss is not the goal here; it’s more of an art form than exercise. That said, you will start to replace fat with muscle as you become leaner, stronger and fitter. People who have tried gym memberships without success stick with aerial classes, because they don’t feel like a workout.

It’s democratic
The form is open to people of all genders and sizes; it’s not solely for lithe, athletic people – the focus is on what your body can do. It’s good for your mental health, too: the complex movements exercise your brain, while developing co-ordination.

You don’t need to start strong
Hoop and silks require upper body strength, but you gain that while learning the moves. After half a dozen classes, you will be able to achieve things you thought were out of reach in your first lesson.

These sessions will be lovingly held onsite. Pre-registration is required. Please visit our reception to sign up when you get to Kisima!

Kiersten & Linda

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The Healing Horse Fields of Kisima Festival !

”a sanctuary where horses and humans can meet and interact through a blended state of awareness”

Experience powerful coaching and healing modalities that tap into the wisdom, sensitivity, and transformative energy of a herd of horses. During the group session, be prepared to gain deeper insights, feel a connection with the horses, and leave with more awareness and clarity. Horses are treated as equal partners and respected co-facilitators throughout the process, creating a positive impact on their well-being as well.

At Kisima Festival Kiersten, Linda and Cici will be sharing the following experiences:

  • Connecting with horse energy
  • Learning about horsepower in healing and transformation.
  • Self Connection through Horses
  • Celebrating diversity and respect with children (10-16 years) and horses
You are welcome to this unique and beautiful experience. Registration for these workshops is required upon arrival at the event. There will also be open spaces  for connection with the horses that do not require registration.

 

 

Tamara

SUP YOGA

SUP Yoga

There are many reasons why people enjoy doing yoga on the water. In addition to having fun with friends or experiencing some quiet solitude on the water, here are a few more benefits:

To get a different kind of workout: Doing yoga on a SUP engages muscles that you may neglect during your on-land practice.

To develop mindfulness: The added challenge of doing yoga on a wobbly board will force you to be very present and intentional with all your movements.

To encourage a beginner’s mindset: If you’ve been practicing yoga for some time now, you might be on autopilot as you do downward facing dog for the thousandth time. But, even the most experienced yogis can learn something new from simple poses, and approaching your yoga practice with the engaged and curious mind of a beginner is a good way to do so. SUP yoga is a great way to work on maintaining a beginner’s mindset because it introduces new challenge to your yoga routine.

 

Join Tamara for her super fun SUP Yoga Sessions! These  sessions are not onsite! They will be hosted at 3 degrees south, which is at the beach at Mnarani club. Please pre-book your sessions at our reception onsite. They can also support you with contact numbers for transport to 3 degrees south.

Paula Mujer Naturaleza

Paula Mujer Naturaleza

Tantra and Sacred Sexuality Tantra understands Sexuality as something Sacred, as a part of us that needs to be integrated again. In this workshop we are going to give a deeper and elevated meaning to sex, to penetration… Sacred Sexuality is the dance of polarities… the masculine and feminine energies, it is the sacred marriage that must first occur within us.

Ovarian Breathing, Feminine Alchemy In this workshop we are going to experience this breathing system based on tantric techniques, which integrates breathing, movement and meditation, in which we come into contact with our consciousness, sexual and heart energies, move and transmute them, making alchemy to heal and manifest what is necessary in our life.

 

Neha

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Neha is a Shaman, Seer, Teacher, Facilitation & Advisor. Neha works at the intersection of spirituality and our physical world. She connects the knowledge and practice of spirituality to the transformation of personal, social and global realities.

She will be offering 3 classes & workshops
Desire and Destiny:  Where are you going in your life? How do you know if you’re on the right path? What is the highest potential for you life? In this class Neha will reveal the teachings of Divine Design and help you understand more deeply how to work with Desire to fulfill your Destiny.
Back to the Future: Our heritage, traditions and lineage held deep and vast bodies of knowledge and wisdom, which we are now returning to, and which is now being validated by modern science and knowledge. But is the answer to our future to simply go back to the past? Or is it deeper than that?In this talk, Neha will explore pathways to the evolution of human consciousness in our life and in the world.
Abundance: Did you know that abundance is a birthright? Not for some of us, but for all of us…Did you know that you can access it anytime you want? And that right now the earth is calling for us to step into it and to create more in the world… Join this workshop with Neha to innerstand what abundance is, experience it for yourself and learn tools and practices to walk your journey to fulfilling it.

Christine Pengilley

Pilates

Classic Mat Pilates
Build your core strength, improve your posture and increase your flexibility by incorporating pilates principles in a whole body workout that will leave you feeling energised and strong.

Restorative pilates
A gentle and mindful class designed to increase body awareness, improve balance and coordination while still continuing to strengthen the deep core muscles.

Kids Pilates
A fun and energetic class that will teach balance, control and agility to create better body awareness and increase body confidence.

Kiran Nyotta

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What is Kirtan?

Kirtan is a call-and-response musical meditation, combining ancient Sanskrit mantras with invigorating drum beats, soothing instruments, and sincere hearts of everyone who attends 

Mantra + music = kirtan. Singing the mantra along with musical instruments is a way to help focus and absorb ourselves in the sound. If the mantra is the remedy, the music is the capsule that makes it easy to take. As Mary Poppins says, ‘a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down!’ 

Kirtan at Kisima Festival 

Mellow Kirtan: This morning practice is all about depth, using our voices and mantra to access the inner sanctums of our hearts and anchoring in our intentions for ourselves and the festival.

Kirtan Heart: In Kirtan, meditation does not mean stillness, it means absorption. This practice with its uplifting joyful drum beats and rhythm is a chance for playful and potent transformation like no other. We will chant to the pri-modial Feminine and Masculine, a recipe for remembrance, connection and bliss. 

Kirtan Core: An exploration of yearning, service and surrender through the practice of Kirtan. This practice explores moods of melancholy, embracing an often ignored flavour of the human experience – separation.

 

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Narissa Allibhai

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Sound healer, conscious community gatherer, backpacking blogger, meditator on rocks, giver of loving hugs, simple soul of love.

Also known as Earth Child, Narissa practices sound healing with the Himalayan singing bowls, a form of Nada Yoga that she continues her lifelong study of in Nepal. Her tools of sound/vibrational alchemy also include the Indian bamboo flute (bansuri), African kalimba, rattles, shakers, Vietnamese dragon gong, and voice. Narissa is also a certified Hatha yoga, pranayama and meditation teacher.

She works with the earth energy as guide and channel, and will connect with you from a deep space of love.

Chakra Sound Healing – Sound healing and chakra clearing guided meditation with the Himalayan singing bowls, Vietnamese dragon gong, African kalimba, voice, rattles and Indian bamboo flute.
Shamanic Sound Journey – A sound ceremony with the Tibetan singing bowls, Vietnamese dragon gong, African kalimba, voice, rattles and Indian bamboo flute. Lie down and allow your body and mind to be soothed into a deep meditation and sound journey guided by the healing sounds and vibrations.

Baibui

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Connecting with Mother Trees: A Plant and Sense Session
Through silence, sensory awareness, sound, and introspection, we will connect with these living elders to remember our sacred relationship with the Earth. By tuning into the energy of Mother Trees, we open ourselves to healing, grounding, and the profound lessons nature offers, reigniting our connection to the natural world.

An exploration through Plant Spirits in Sacred Smudging
Delve into the enchanting world of plant spirits as we approach this ancient practice with innocent curiosity, honor, and respect. Smudging as a smoke cleanse, invites us to discover not just the cleansing power of our wonderful plant friends, but also ourselves and the unique wisdom and energy of the plants that walk alongside us. This journey is about finding connection and understanding, allowing the plant spirits to guide us in discovering ourselves ever so.

Child Mud Play and Painting: A Meditative Experience
When a child is curious, they will learn anything. What conditions support healthy development of children? How can we provide them these? Mud-play and painting offer children a serene connection to nature, a first-hand type of learning in nature and with the life to life interaction through curiosity, grounding them as they explore textures, colors, ideas. This tactile experience boosts the immune system, encourages mindfulness, healthy brain development, and nurtures sensory development, fostering a deep love and nurturing friendship with the earth.

Forest Redlin

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Baobab Climbing

Experience the ancient baobab in a whole new dimension! Secured with a rope and harness, venture into the upper canopy of a baobab tree. Exercise your mind and body as you weave your unique route along the curves and undulations created naturally on the trees bark over hundred of years!

Kids and Adults sessions available

Bella
Akello

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Bella Akello is a Yoga Teacher with expertise in Baptiste Power Yoga, Psychotherapeutic Yoga whereby Neuroscience meets Yoga and Traditional Yoga.

With her extensive search for knowledge and years of practice and teaching she has taken a much deeper dive into Breathwork specifically functional breathing and is pleased to share this with you.

Her classes at Kisima Festival will include:

Grief talk: We go over different types of grief, inner and outer landscape of grief as well as how to take care of the grieving.

Yoga for grief. A nurturing slow paced class meant to support and hold one through their difficult time/emotions.

 

 

Melina Moors

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Melina originates from Germany but relocated to Kenya in 2007, following her inner calling for a deeper sense of belonging and groundedness. Once she got hooked to yoga in 2015, her life started changing for the better and she soon yearned to deepen her knowledge – completing certifications in teaching multi-style yoga with Kanga Studio Nairobi; Yin yoga with renowned, UK-based teacher Norman Blair; and Thai Yoga Massage with Francisco Morales-Bermudez from Synergy Yoga.

Yin Yoga Immersion with Beanbags
Experience the amazing grounding influence of weighted beanbags on your state of being – as you journey inwards through a classic, calming, slow-paced Yin yoga sequence. Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine and Daoist principles, Yin yoga works into the deepest connective tissues of your body – the ligaments, joints, bones, deep fascia and the meridians. Yin yoga is known to enhance breath awareness, increase flexibility, alleviate tension, balance motions, boost circulation, reduce stress levels, promote relaxation, improve sleep and enhance mental focus.

Rebekah

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AYURVEDA DINACHARYA

In Ayurveda, when it comes to health and healing, your daily routine is more important than the things you consume like medicine and food.

What is the ideal daily routine? That’s exactly what we’ll explore in our Ayurveda Dinacharya workshop.

Hatha Yoga

“My approach to hatha yoga integrates anatomical detail, biological principles, and a harmonious blend of yogic philosophy with scientific understanding”

DAILY SPIRITUAL JOURNAL

For the past eight years, I’ve experienced the life-changing benefits of daily journaling and am excited to share what I’ve learned with you. The reason I’ve sustained this practice so long is that it’s not journaling in the traditional sense—it’s more like data collection. Each night, I reflect on around 12 aspects of myself or my goals, giving myself a checkmark, grade, or brief note. This approach is easy to maintain and quickly reveals patterns in behaviour and areas for growth. Seeing your mental distortions laid out on the page helps shift your narrative, which can radically improve your life.

Danny Stoker

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Kriya Yoga is a classical form of yoga and includes a system of techniques to foster awareness and self-realization. The sadhana is rooted in South Indian tantric and Siddha teachings and has enormous potential to make us more conscious human beings.

 Classes blend asana, pranayama, chanting, mudras, and meditation in an integral manner, directing prana (life force) to purify and balance the mind and emotions. Kriay yoga is described as ‘action with awareness,’ and through it, you will experience awareness and learn to take that awareness actively into everyday living.

Shayur Shah

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Biodanza
Biodanza is a facilitated music and movement journey that creates a space for personal expression, self-discovery and connection. The music is carefully chosen to support this journey and the facilitator guides participants through a series of themes – each with their own quality – in a safe and supportive way. Together, the elements of music, movement and facilitation provide us with a powerful experience to connect with our bodies, emotions and creativity, and to cultivate a sense of joy, freedom, vitality, and wellbeing.

Contact Improvisation
Contact Improvisation is a dance form that involves spontaneous and collaborative movement with a partner or group. It’s a beautiful way to discover the joy of movement and connection! We’ll explore the intelligence and creativity that is inherent in our body and express ourselves through movement and music while also improving our physical and emotional well-being. This experience will help you learn to trust your body, communicate through touch, and connect with others in a safe and supportive environment.

Kids’ Music and Dance Workshop
This workshop is designed to get kids moving, grooving, and having a blast while they learn about music, rhythm, and movement. Through a series of fun and interactive activities, children will explore their creativity, enhance their awareness of their body, and express themselves through music and dance.

Mara The Storyteller

mara the storyteller

Storyteller:

Mara is a multi-award-winning, internationally touring storyteller, writer and narrative artist, who draws on her rich, dual Kenyan/Scottish cultural heritage, to create worlds that explore contemporary issues through legend, myth and fantasy. She believes that stories are our lifeblood. They root us to the past, inspire our present and enable us to imagine our future. In her own unique way, she retells ancient stories, crafts new narratives and helps others find their own story.

Author:

Her award-winning novel ‘Blood and Gold’ is published by Birlinn and can be found in all good bookshops.

Nature Lover:

Founder of Msitu wa Ndoto (Forest of Dreams), Mara is passionate about using our stories to inspire, inform and imagine our futures. Through her work with Panga ya Saidi / Saidi’s cave, (Africa’s oldest human burial site), she is inspired to work with this extraordinary venue as a nucleus for engaging, imaginative learning and re-rooting into our history and connection with the earth and ourselves.

Mawazo Institute

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The Mawazo Institute is a women-led African organisation supporting early-career women researchers as they work to find solutions to local and global development challenges. In Kiswahili, “mawazo” means “ideas”.

 Leading With Care And Radical Optimism: The Power of African Women as Leaders and Innovators

We start with a grounding session; introduction to what the data says about the power of women leaders and (African) feminist leadership. African women’s leadership style diverges from traditional patriarchal models, emphasising emotional intelligence, teamwork, and innovation. We then look at  African women leadership in action  and invite visionary leaders that believe in a more equitable and just world, setting ambitious goals that inspire and mobilise others to work toward meaningful change.

Rest, Renew, Thrive: Cultivating Balance for Sustainable Living and Leadership

We start with a grounding session and opportunity for setting the scene. Fostering well-being and balance, emphasising the importance of restoration for our bodies, minds, and connection to nature. A group discussion follows  using “What would shift if we prioritised well-being over constant productivity? How do rest, renewal, and diversity enrich our lives and work?” as prompts. 

Zaka

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What Is Kemetic Yoga?

Kemetic yoga, which originated in Egypt, focuses on the movement of energy through the body in order to connect with one’s higher intelligence and the divine. One practices Kemetic yoga at a much slower pace than in a standard asana class, and there is more of a focus on meditation and the chakras (energy centers). The physical poses of Kemetic yoga are taken from ancient illustrations of Egyptian gods and goddesses. It is a practice with African roots that has been largely ignored by mainstream yoga culture. This is not surprising given the history of oppression against people of African descent in North America. The contributions of people of color to modern society rarely make it into history books even though they played a huge part in the development of modern world culture.

Sister Tibebwa

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Ipsalu  Energy Yoga

The primary practice is called The Ipsalu Formula. Ancient Tantric masters rebelled against the idea that only the Brahmins were allowed to approach the Divine with ritual. The early Tantrics believed each individual had the right to approach the Divine in their own way. As a result, they developed their own “recipes” for achieving expanded consciousness. The Ipsalu Formula is a method that draws on these techniques to achieve transformation.

Ancient African Tantric Wisdom

Goddess is at the foundation of every religious and spiritual tradition from earliest times. The origin of everything is the Divine Mother. This is certainly a bold statement to make, and yet it does warrant consideration. What if the roots of yogic philosophy go even further back and extend outside of South Asia? Who are the Goddesses of the Kaula and Shakta traditions who share symbols, iconography, and qualities with much earlier and cross-cultural forms? What can we learn from early Goddess civilizations in Africa, Old Europe, Anatolia, the Near East, Ancient Greece and the Indus Sarasvati Valley?

Games for Mental Health

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Empowering individuals through games, music, and discussions to promote mental health awareness, combat stigma, and provide support for all.

Denise Vanessa

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Kriya Yoga and Hypnosis for deep relaxation

This session will be a combination of Kriya yoga (Asanas, Breathwork) with hypnosis and sound therapy. We are going to start the session with Asanas +Breathwork guided by Danny. This gentle and powerful yoga practice will help to release toxins, stretch muscles and to focus inwards. Relaxing sounds created by singing bowls will healing vibrations and prepares the mind for the hypnotic state. Guided hypnotherapy will follow next, designed to promote deeper relaxation, release stress, and foster positive change. This session will be open to all levels.

Hypnosis & Sound therapy for Trauma work and inner strength

I specifically designed this session to address trauma and boost inner strength. In a safe and supportive environment, I will be guiding everyone into a relaxed state using the gentle power of sounds. The soothing vibrations from the singing bowls will help release emotional blockages and promote relaxation. hypnotherapy will follow to help explore and process your trauma while uncovering your inherent resilience. This session encourages healing, empowerment, and resilience. Its open to everyone.

Zen Playtime ( 0-10 years old)

Join us for a delightful children’s mindfulness session that combines breathwork, movement, circle time , story and sounds time. In this engaging and interactive class, kids will learn to connect with their breath through fun exercises that promote calmness and focus.

Linda

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Linda will be offering sessions with Linda and Cici in the Healing Horse Fields.  In addition she is offering:

 

Self-Connection through Belly Dance 

This workshop invites you to explore the art of belly dance (real name is Baladi) as a pathway to deeper self-connection and embodied awareness. Through flowing movements, rhythmic isolation, and expressive dance techniques, you’ll reconnect with your body and embrace your feminine energy. In a supportive space, participants will explore the theme “self-connection”, while celebrating the unique power and beauty of our bodies. No prior dance experience is needed. 

Edgar Kimathi

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Edgar has been practicing the Vipassana meditation technique for the last 15 years. Vipassana is an insight meditation practice that allows one to develop an understanding of the nature of mind and body through personal experience.

Offerings at Kisima Festival

Children’s Practices
1: Exploring the foundations of mindfulness – Practices: Solid as a Mountain, Bell, Weather
2: Kind heart Practices to connect with and care for each other – Practices: Flower Watering,
3: Monotasking Practices to train our attention – Practices: Starfish, Rabbit

 

Biodanza workshop
A journey into movement and sound in a safe and supportive space for participants to explore and connect with their bodies, emotions, and creativity. In this dance of life, participants will experience a series of movements and experiences to tap into their inner reservoirs of trust, courage, peace, playfulness and love.

Get Tickets for Kisima 2024