Talent galore at national music and drama fete
What you need to know:
- Cheptenye High School staged a moving play on the plight of albinos as the 57th Kenya National Drama Festivals began on Tuesday at Meru School and neighbouring Kaaga Girls High School.
- Meru Governor Peter Munya will open the 10-day event on Wednesday, flanked by County Director of Education Willy Machocho and the festival’s national chairman, Mr Chokera Kahura.
- Kaaga Boys High will host universities and Kemu University the technical training colleges (TTCs) as Meru School hosts secondary schools and Kaaga Girls the primary schools.
- The afternoon session’s highlights included Chavakali High School’s play. Chamchela; stand-up comedy by St Joseph’s Nyabondo, Teacher; a play by Nkubu High, Downfall of Camelot; and Highway Secondary’s oral narrative, It Doesn’t Matter.
- In the primary schools category, Kerugoya Good Shepherd’s Kiswahili choral verse, Talanta, aptly tackled the child’s role in the drama festival. The drama giant is a nationals veteran.
Cheptenye High School staged a moving play on the plight of albinos as the 57th Kenya National Drama Festivals began on Tuesday at Meru School and neighbouring Kaaga Girls High School.
Meru Governor Peter Munya will open the 10-day event on Wednesday, flanked by County Director of Education Willy Machocho and the festival’s national chairman, Mr Chokera Kahura.
Kaaga Boys High will host universities and Kemu University the technical training colleges (TTCs) as Meru School hosts secondary schools and Kaaga Girls the primary schools.
Cheptenye’s Tamara is about a king with incurable brain cancer whose the council of elders decides to kill an albino to save his life.
His right-hand man picks the victim but he is the fiancé of the king’s daughter. It was scripted and directed by Mr Jeremy Wabuli and produced by Mr Bernard Orwasa.
Killing of albinos for ritualistic acts is widespread. Mr Wabuli said 70 per cent of the world’s albinos live in East Africa and, in 2014, some 1,830 of them were killed in Tanzania and Kenya.
“The play is dedicated to Telei Mwaitega, a Standard Four pupil who was killed by six men and her body parts sold,” he said.
Munithu Girls High School from Meru presented a cultural dance, Njetu, on gender equality. It was choreographed by Petronilla Gitonga.
Baricho High School presented a Kiswahili play, Kashfa, on corruption scandals, which was scripted and produced by Mr Derrick Waswa.
Fr Ouderaa Special School - Nyangoma, from Siaya, presented a cultural dance that was very well choreographed, coupled with good instrumentation.
AFTERNOON HIGHLIGHTS
The afternoon session’s highlights included Chavakali High School’s play. Chamchela; stand-up comedy by St Joseph’s Nyabondo, Teacher; a play by Nkubu High, Downfall of Camelot; and Highway Secondary’s oral narrative, It Doesn’t Matter.
In the primary schools category, Kerugoya Good Shepherd’s Kiswahili choral verse, Talanta, aptly tackled the child’s role in the drama festival. The drama giant is a nationals veteran.
Another academic giant, PCEA Kanyakine Boys Boarding Primary, staged a thrilling oral narrative, I Work and Play, scripted by Mr Howard Lumumba and produced by Mr Moffat Mutea.
Vivian Jidwa of St Joseph Herman from the Coast had a solo verse about the girl’s wish to become a journalist.
They mimicked top Swahili broadcasters, including Jicho Pevu’s Mohamed “Aliii..” and Hassan “Jumaaaaa.”
Riara Road Primary staged a play, Keeping the Promise, by Sande Atudo, while Kudho School from Kisumu had a cultural dance, Owalo.
