Abasuba culture is under pressure from the neighboring Luo community due to assimilation and intermarriage.
The festival addresses societal ills within the Abasuba community such as the sex-for-fish practice that impacts negatively on efforts to curb the spread of HIV.
There is additionally a street procession that is used to invite residents of the Rusinga Island to the festival grounds.
[1][2] The Rusinga Festival utilizes a boat-library that also serves the purpose of providing a safe space for discussion of various sensitive issues affecting the Abasuba.
Popular sports at the Rusinga Cultural Festival are Wrestling(Eminyiika), Oluko/Oruko(Ajua) Tug-of-War and Boat Racing.
The festival has opened up the Western Kenya tourism circuit and exposed it to both domestic and international tourists.
[8] Abasuba community members are highly engaged in preparation, management and running of the Rusinga Cultural Festival.
The festival provides a forum for discussing health & sanitation, HIV, banking, social security protection and other things affecting the Abasuba community.
[6][1] Relevant government departments, private sector and various embassies are the major partners of the Rusinga Cultural festival.