‘Kenya’s voice of reason or Jubilee apologist?’ Mudavadi answers critics

The Nairobi Chamber Chorus is in the USA, marketing Kenya as a safe place to visit.

The choir has been touring the southern states of Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida, using their songs to highlight the integration and peace in their home country.

Their repertoire includes local songs as well as tunes from other parts of the African continent. Their American hosts, The Festival Singers of Florida, have also performed with NCC during the tour.

Among the places the team has staged performances are Georgia State University’s Kopleff Recital Hall, Second-Ponce De Leon Baptist Church, and University of Mississippi Ford Centre.

They also staged thrilling concerts at Memorial Presbyterian Church, Trinity United Methodist Church, Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, First United Methodist Church and Hope Presbyterian Church.

After the performances, those in attendance were often eager to listen to hear about the choir members talk about their roots and the coexistence of Kenya’s 42 communities.

Founded in October 2005 by Ken Wakia, NCC’s mission is to enable young Kenyans to participate in a high quality musical forum from which they can build their careers or expand their knowledge and interest in the arts. Since its inception, more than 70 young people have participated and many are now leading musicians in Kenya, performing and teaching music across the country and beyond,” he said.

Wakia says NCC’s vision is a strong, well-trained musical community, which can use music to promote peace and cross-cultural understanding through quality performance of choral music.

Members are drawn from the various universities and institutions around Nairobi. It is a purely voluntary group and members donate their time and resources in order to meet and make music.

 It also emerged that music is highly appreciated and respected in the states that the team visited given the kind of investments made in the industry.

This was made clear through the investments made in the industry in Kenya that by all comparisons is nil or meagre.

After the performances, those in attendance were eager to listen to the choir members to explain their origin and what drove them into the business.

It emerged a few of those present know about Kenya at large. Many know about Nigeria but in a negative way.

The songs that NCC staged were loaded with peace and coexistence messages. Further, director Ken Wakia informed the congregations Kenya has 42 tribes coexisting peacefully to their shock.

Some of the attendants were eager to learn how 42 different sub tribes coexist and why they should not split to be different states or counties as it’s in their country. But they were informed cultural practices have emboldened the tribes to be united and coexist peacefully.

“We are taught at all levels on the need to have unity among us and coexist for the sake of peace and stability. We are bound by many social cultural issues that you need to come to Kenya and learn,” said Wakia.

Kenya is a hotbed of good things that you need to visit and explore, he told the congratulations in churches and universities.

“The rehearsal, dinner and concert with NCC were all deeply fulfilling and enriching experience for me and my students both musically and personally. Ken and his singers are warm, kind, gracious and very talented. The audience was moved to tears by their performance and gave them two standing ovations. Words can’t do it justice,” said Georgia State University’s director of choral activities Deanna Joseph

What stood out at the places visited was that institutions or authorities in the US recognize the importance of music at large. This came out after it emerged almost all universities or churches that the group visited has fully fledged choir and well equipped studio for their performances.

The trip revealed students in these institutions are exposed to good ground for their take off in the field of music.

“This demonstrates the need for Kenya and Kenyans at large to reengineer themselves in the music field. Right now we don’t have an institution that takes music seriously as a career training ground. It’s only KU that has tried but we are far behind,” said Wakia.

He argued music as a study is a rich area that need to be taken seriously by authorities.

Wakia revealed various sponsors including the US embassy in Nairobi, Safaricom, ministry of sports and Festival Singers of Florida made their trip a success.

He said many Kenyans also don’t recognise the importance of music and especially choral music.

“Many don’t know this is a serious area that need to be explored. When you walk around you will see that,” he said.

The director of Festival Singers of Florida Kevin Fenton who is also the professor of choral conducting and ensembles at Florida State University praised NCC saying they present a country and region that is rich with diverse views but bound by culture that can be spread through music.

Founded in October 2005 by Wakia, NCC is the leading choral group in Kenya today.

According to Wakia, its mission is to enable young Kenyans to participate in a high quality musical forum from which they can build their careers or expand their knowledge and interest in the arts.

“Since its inception, over 70 young people have participated and many are now leading musicians in Kenya, performing and teaching music across the country and beyond,” he said.

Wakia says NCC’s vision is a strong, well-trained musical community, which can use music to promote peace and cross-cultural understanding through quality performance of choral music.

Members are drawn from the various universities and institutions around Nairobi. It is a purely voluntary group and members donate their time and resources in order to meet and make music.

Their main agenda is now to promote local and international culture and education as the Cultural and Educational Affairs Specialist for the US Embassy.