Children's rights theme dominates Nairobi primary schools music festival
What you need to know:
- Nairobi County Knut treasurer Hannington Ochieng was the guest of honour during the festivals that have been going on at City Primary School.
- Mr Ochieng said that there was need for music trainers to be honoured.
- Kibera Primary School presented a verse, 'The Monster', also on the issue of tutors molesting and beating children under their watch.
- The Nairobi schools music festival is the biggest event in in the Kenya Music Festival, attracting over 30,000 participants.
As the Nairobi City County Primary Schools Music Festival draws to a close, pupils have used the platform to highlight the violence that children face at home and in school, which is largely ignored by the society.
In 13 choral verses presented in the ‘No Violence to Children’ category on Thursday, pupils laid bare the many forms of violence children encounter in the hands of parents, teachers, relatives, uncles , house helps and strangers.
The case of teachers abusing the trust put on them by parents and society was highlighted in Nairobi Primary School’s verse about a teacher who rapes his pupils and threatens them with dire consequences if they reveal his acts.
It takes the courage of one pupil to reveal the actions of the teacher.
Kibera Primary School presented a verse, 'The Monster', also on the issue of tutors molesting and beating children under their watch.
"PRACTICAL LESSONS"
Westlands Primary School presented a tragicomic verse about a teacher who takes lessons on sex education too far by "going practical".
AIC Zion performed 'My Class, My Slap', a verse on a paedophile who lurks in a school’s neighbourhood, making children fear even getting out of class to play during break time.
The man, who lures children with simple goodies and calls himself ‘uncle’ is finally arrested and the children get back to playground.
In Bidii Primary School’s verse ‘Petals under Pressure’, the violence by parents on their children was highlighted.
In the verse, a violent mother abuses her children so much that they try as much as possible to stay away from home.
The same theme was highlighted in Tassia Primary School’s verse, ‘Amina’, where a girl is subjected to violence by her mother.
Kariobangi South Primary school presented a poem on child trafficking while Our Lady of Nazareth presented a poem on how children are molested by those who are supposed to be taking care of them.
Participants in the festival also presented folk dances from various communities in Kenya.
REWARD TRAINERS
Nairobi County Knut Treasurer Hannington Ochieng was the guest of honour during the festivals that have been going on at City Primary School.
During the event which ends on Friday, Mr Ochieng, a former music trainer and conductor, gave Sh5,000 to each trainer of all the winning items.
Mr Ochieng said that there was need for music trainers to be rewarded as most sponsors in the festival only recognize the students.
“Without the trainers, there would be no festival,” said Mr Ochieng, who also donated eight trophies to winning schools.
The Nairobi schools music festival is the biggest event in in the Kenya National Festival, attracting over 30,000 participants.
(Reporting by Anthony Njagi; Editing by Martin Kinyanjui)
