Music fiesta rocks Mombasa peace drive

By GEORGE ORIDO

Coastal youth recently took some time off the beautiful beaches and ignored the prevalent political turmoil to express their desire for peace, empowerment and responsible citizenship at the Mombasa Gospel talent Fiesta, at Siloam.

Explosive energy and raw talent were aplenty in the poems, songs, dance, spoken word and rap as they expressed issues close to their hearts. At the end of the two-day event, there was no doubt whatsoever that the performers knew where their problems begin and how they can be tackled.

“As some youth get into some trouble elsewhere we are here to make an impression that our energies can be directed to more positive things in life - as the saying goes, ‘an idle mind is the devils workshop,” said a jubilant Anthony Onyango who had just presented a solo performance Our Father by Don Moen.

The drug problem that has rendered many youth sick and hopeless also came out strongly in most of the presentations.

Emmanuel Motari struck a chord with many a youth as they joined in the refrain, Ma-youth kweli tuwe macitizen wa kutgemewa, papa hapa hata tusipotee pata potea(Fellow youth, let us be reliable citizens not chancing with fate), to win in the rap category.

A group of graceful girls from Siloam Ministry put their best feet forward to emerge tops with their Mwomboko dance in the group folk song category.

Their dancing patterns were well coordinated and the music rose to a crescendo, bringing the roof down as they received a standing ovation.

Yanong Babz, Testifiers and Kiembeni Baptist also gave a good account of themselves coming as winners in the African dance category.

Higher standards

Not to be left behind in dance were Nemel troupe from Neno who in the Western dance category left no bone unturned to give a truly inspirational performance. Decked in red and white, the group mastered their delicate and to-the-second detail dance moves that left many tongues wagging. With a great deal of break dance and acrobatics, they were in a class of their own, showing what the youth can do with a God-given body for self-growth and advancement.

In the solo own- composition category Brylin Nahashon and Beatrice Njeri persuaded the youthful audience to observe the peace during the forthcoming elections. The festival’s host Pastor Joshua Kiratu of Siloam emphasising the need for all communities in the Coast Province to remain brothers and sisters in the face of competition, buttressed the same message.

 “The standards of this year’s performance have soared,” said Philip Mbinji the founder and judge of the festival, now in its fourth year.

Speaking in one voice

“We are glad the festival is making progress and next year we shall involve the whole of Mombasa County,’

Winners got away with trophies and there the Pastor promised cash prizes in the coming editions of the festival beginning next year. Yet the most exciting experience was to have so many youth from different cultural and ethnic background speak in the same voice, sharing food together and communing in chats and friendly encounters in the two days of the festival.

This year’s Mombasa Talent Fiesta brought more than 2000 youths and children from Mombasa region together to showcase their talents.

Mombasa Gospel Talent fiesta aims at bringing all the youths and teenagers together so as to showcase their talents while praising God in the church environment. This year’s theme was: ‘Training a Faithful Generation.’