Students entertained audiences with creative dances, poems and songs with a message that Kenya is a beautiful country that must be guarded jealously through democratic systems, good governance and adherence to the human rights code.
In a day attended by the Minister for Education Sam Ongeri and his two assistants, Prof Oyiecho Olweny and Calistus Mwatela the students left no doubt that Kenyan cultural heritage is rich and dynamic.
And as the curtains fell on 85th edition of the Kenya Schools and Colleges Music Festivals in Nakuru, Nairobi was declared the best province overall. Ahero Girls from Nyanza received the award for best dance in the festival.
The highest mark in Taarab was scored by Brainsworth Nyali Secondary School form Coast while Friends College Kaimosi from western bagged the most meritorious post-secondary folk dance.
Golden Elites from Nyanza scooped the best special composition in primary category. Chavakali High School from Western received trophy for the best overall arrangement of contemporary melodies, Kenya and the rest of Africa.
Their neighbours, Springboard Academy from Busia ran away with Gold as the Primary School with most entries numbering 28 and winning seven out of them
Kenyatta University got the Mumias Sugar trophy for the best overall Negro Spiritual, while Kaveye came to the podium twice winning best overall arrangement and adaptation trophy as well as wining the best set piece secondary in a collaboration with Chavakali Boys.
Winning trophies
With Western grabbing the most merit awards, St Paul’s Erusui Girls bagged yet another trophy for the region with the best composition in special classes – Secondary.
Carole Academy from rift Valley, Moi Nairobi Girls, and Mosoriot Teachers College received the winning trophies in the best performance in choral, best original composition and best cultural dances – colleges, respectively.
Epren Academy from Nairobi excited the audience with their singing game that reminded adults of the importance of playing as a way of holistic growth for the young ones.
Gesiaga Primary followed with a Kisii folk song that is performed by men and women after a bumper harvest.
Singing with the string instrument, the Obokhano, the group gave a sterling show with boys dressed in elaborate headgear woven with chicken feathers.The horn gave a relaxing effect to the performance.
Eastern was the next stop with MCK Kaathi performing a Kimeru folk song. With close semblance to the Kisii foot thumping this rendition was different with the whistle playing a crucial role in control and transitions. Musa Gitau Primary from Central kept the audience on the edge with powerful delivery of their Kiswahili verse, Jukumu.
The verse encourages Kenya’s electorate to vote a leadership that can bring the much-needed change in society. Veterans Springboard Academy presented a special composition on Wings to Fly, Tutapata about the noble initiative and spirit by Equity Bank and MasterCard International to sponsor thousands of needy students in secondary schools.
According to the chairman of the Festival, the Students will perform for President Mwai Kibaki this Monday as opposed to tomorrow as earlier envisaged.
Minister Ongeri emphasised the need to have co-curriculum activities embedded in the foundation of the schools curriculum.
