Performers Entice Audience at Kenya National Music Festivals
At the ongoing Kenya National Music Festival in Kisumu, performers continued to enchant the audience.
Joshua Mutua Mbiti of Miangoni Primary School in Machakos was one of the most memorable performers with his Kamba chant condemning the negative effects of information technology on families, particularly children.
Mbiti’s stage antics elicited a rare fit of laughter from the usually stoic Education Cabinet Secretary, George Magoha.
Other attendees included the Chief Administrative Secretary, Sarah Ruto, an official from the National Music Festival, Peter Wanjohi, the Senior Deputy Director of the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development, Jacqueline Onyango, and the Executive Secretary of the National Music Festival, Janet Langat.
Anyang’ Nyong’o, the governor of Kisumu, thanked the committee for selecting the lakeside city, stating that it was a significant boost coming soon after the Africities Conference. This year’s festival received more than 600 submissions from students in kindergarten through college.
Regional Director of Education Nelson Sifuna greeted the participants and encouraged them to experience the lakeside city’s tourist attractions.
Nkoilale Primary School from Maasai Mara won the African Folk Song from Maasai, Samburu, Njemps, Rendile, and Taveta categories with a strong rendition of the Maasai wedding song Enashipai, which means happiness.
“My Atlas,” a poem by students from KBA School in Nairobi’s Kahawa West, was also captivating.
Mulama George’s poem highlights Kenya’s attractions under the My Kenya, My Pride theme to highlight the country’s diverse and unexplored natural resources.
Eunice Wangui, Emily Akoyo, Joan Mukami, Christine Njoki, and Pabreanne Mwende presented it.
Another poem that was well received was “Apingaye Asimame.”
It discusses the need to embrace and safeguard the nation’s rail network. Both poems have advanced to the finals on Friday.
Kisumu Teachers’ Club won the Adaptation and arrangement of Gospel pop music from Africa category for teachers’ club choirs after delivering an exceptional Wanadamu song sung by Gideon Bonyo and Joshuu Oricho.
Most technical institutions and universities performed on stage yesterday.
After performing Kama si Mungu by Anastacia Mukabwa, Sigalagala National Polytechnic won the adaptation and arrangement of gospel pop music from Africa in the technical, polytechnic, and NYS categories.
Kabete Technical and Railways Training Institution tied for second place.
Kenyatta University (KU) defeated the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) in the unaccompanied secular set piece, mixed voices, Drunken Sailor by Jonathan Willocks category.
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Peter Wanjohi, chairman of the festival, stated that approximately 20,000 students from 1059 ECD and primary schools had already been sent home.
Out of 600 competitive items, they had finished more than 200 of them as they prepared to begin the secondary school category today.
Prof. Magoha urged the Music Festival Executive Committee to capitalize on the festival’s emerging talent.
“I challenge the organisers of the music festivals to take these activities to the next level. In the build-up to this festival, the enormous potential and talent amongst our youth and the dedication of our teachers has been quite evident,” he said.
Performers Entice Audience at Kenya National Music Festivals
