Kenya Community Victoria Secures First Major Grant for 2025 Tamaduni Festival

In a landmark achievement, Kenya Community Victoria (KCV) has been awarded $20,000 in funding through the Victorian Government’s Multicultural Festivals and Events Program (2025–26 Round One) to support the upcoming Tamaduni Festival-Hybrid 2025.

The funding, which excludes GST, is the largest grant ever received by KCV and represents a turning point for the community-run organisation that has operated for nearly a decade on minimal external support.

The Tamaduni Festival, KCV’s signature cultural event, showcases Kenyan music, food, art, and dance, and has grown in both scale and attendance since its inception. The 2025 edition is expected to feature enhanced programming, a hybrid format, and the attendance of state government dignitaries, further raising its profile.

“This grant is a watershed moment for us,” KCV said in a statement. “It’s a recognition of years of hard work, and it will allow us to better serve and represent our community.”

The funding follows a comprehensive grants assessment led by representatives from the Victorian Multicultural Commission, the Multicultural Affairs portfolio, and cultural events specialists from across government.

source @Kenya Community Victoria

Next steps for the community:

• Ticket prices will be lowered to make the festival more accessible.

• Refunds will be processed for those who have already purchased tickets under the previous pricing structure.

• KCV will now enter into a Victorian Common Funding Agreement as part of the grant conditions.

The Victorian Government says the program is designed to enable multicultural and multifaith communities to share their heritage and customs with all Victorians.

For KCV, the support marks not just financial relief but institutional acknowledgment of the community’s role in enriching Victoria’s cultural landscape.