Kenyatta University Wins 36 Trophies at Kenya Music Festival
Kenyatta University won 36 trophies at the recently concluded Kenya Music Festival to earn the top university award.
The university that boasts an annual cultural week and a robust faculty of Performing Arts and Media studies not only produced the most items, but also elevated the bar in terms of choral and vocal quality by presenting more than 40 items in various categories.
The Buganda cultural song Nsambira, which is frequently performed at Luganda weddings to honor the bride and wish the newlyweds a prosperous life, was one of their finest performances.
The performance, conducted by soloist Melvin Turphena and directed by Dr. Elijah Adongo was praised for its synchronization of voices and warm, entertaining harmony.
Truphena, a third-year music student at KU, fondly reminisces about her experience performing at the State House last Wednesday. She expresses a mixture of overwhelming joy and happiness as she recollects her emotions while performing before the President.
According to Dr. Adongo, the secret to the success of the performance was his ability to ‘tame’ the voices of the over 40 vocalists to a level where shouting was avoided.
Adongo, whose alma mater is the University of Florida, stated that he worked diligently to attain excellence in choral performance with the Kenyatta University choir by focusing on tone color, rhythm, pitch accuracy, and dynamics.
Faith Kairu, Benjamin Ouma, Patrick Namenya, and Andrew Kizito are among the choir’s student composers and conductors. Dr. Isaiah Oyugi and Sylvester Otieno are among the choir’s accomplished trainers.
MaryAnn Wambua, a student with a visual impairment, captivated the audience with her performance of Before I Go, an original composition by the university.
MaryAnn sang about her own life in the new class’s KMF Pop Talent Show and questioned why society discriminates against people like her.
Maureen Wambui, Dorcas Sharon, Abigael Rono, and Rose Achieng, four auxiliary singers who performed to an original sound track, supported her.
During the State Concert in Nakuru, Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Youth Affairs and Arts, Ababu Namwamba, highlighted that the “Talanta Hela inspired” category at the festival is geared towards prompt monetization of this content.
The audience was astounded by the sheer talent and effort needed to achieve such a high level of dynamic performance while listening to Double Double, originally sung by Congolese Nyboma and arranged and adopted by maestro Sylvetser Otieno for choral rendition.
In the song, Nyboma bemoans the discovery that his life partner is cheating on him with his closest friend. He questions why this is happening after doing so much for her.
And in yet another new class of Zinazovuma, a derivative of the Zilizopendwa where chart-topping music since 2006 has been arranged and adapted in a similar manner, the university won gold with Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz’s Number One single, also directed by Sylvester Otieno.
In addition to arrangement of male voices, Kikuyu folk song, solo African string, Kisii dance, Mijikenda folk song, piano solo, own choice sacrosanct, and advanced original composition, the University won in several other categories.
The university presented 52 objects in total and won more than 30 categories.
President Ruto presented KU Vice Chancellor Prof. Paul Wainaina with the festival’s Best University award during Wednesday’s State Winners Concert in Nakuru.
Dr. Wambugu Miano, head of the university’s music department, remarked, “I am proud of the achievements of the powerful KU choir at this year’s festival.”
According to Dr. Wambugu, the significant achievement underscores the department’s remarkable musicianship and adherence to high-quality standards. He also highlighted the consistency in university management under the leadership of Prof. Wainaina.
Kenyatta University Wins 36 Trophies at Kenya Music Festival