Feature: Rift Valley Festival, March 26-28 - Fundraiser for Kenya's Naivasha Valley

Published: 11 March 2010
by AMAH-ROSE ABRAMS

STROLLING along the banks of a lake in Kenya, Belsize Park brothers Ivan and Sean Ross were not only stunned by the area’s natural beauty, but worried how much longer they’d be able to enjoy it.

The brothers, who went to William Ellis School, had heard how the lake was under threat from the massive growth in horticulture in Kenya, where farmers have been encouraged to switch from food production to growing flowers to be cut, bagged and flown to garage forecourts for last-minute offerings when you’ve fallen out with a loved one.

Rather than wring hands and bemoan Lake Naivasha’s demise, they have decided to do something: and the result is a three-day Rift Valley music festival with a host of big European names joining top African acts on stage.

The brothers have a long association with Kenya. Their grand­mother moved to Africa from England in the 1950s and their father grew up there. Ivan and Sean came to England when Ivan, the older sibling, was four. They have travelled back and forth ever since and treat is as a second home.

“We always thought it would be an amazing place to put on a festival,” Ivan said. 

Lake Naivasha, home to 400 species of bird, will make a dramatic backdrop for the festival. But because of the booming cut flowers business, the banks have drawn a massive boom in population – and an unsustainable demand on the water and natural resources. 

The brothers hope to both raise awareness of the need for clean water and cash to help stop deforestation.

Ivan said: “We wanted  to bring different types of music together whilst raising money for the area.” 

This includes promo­ting the use of Moto Poa, a bio-fuel made from molasses, which would lessen the need to use wood and therefore help to conserve the forests in the area.

The festivals includes a DJ set from Zero 7,  alongside British-born band Yam Yam, who will be playing the trad­itional Benga music orig­inally of the Luo tribe.

• The festival runs from March 26-28. For more details – and tickets sales – go to www.riftvalleyfestival.com