'Echoes of war' isn't an innocent play; it's incitement to violence

Butere Girls High Students declined to perform the controversial ‘Echoes of War’ play at Melvin Jones in Nakuru during the 63rd edition of the Kenya National Drama and Film Festival on April 10, 2025.  [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Kenya sits precariously on a fragile pedestal, struggling to contain tribal violence and long-standing balkanisation fueled by hate speech and unpatriotic narratives. The ‘Echoes of war’ play is laced with rebellious undertones that cannot be permitted. Our democratic framework is so loose that ethnically-charged rhetoric and entrenched tribalism will quickly plunge Kenya to chaos.

As the 2027 election campaigns gain momentum, drum-beats of war have been beaten and political incitement is rife. We have forgotten the post-election violence of 1992, 1997, and 2007.

As much as the Constitution gives freedom of expression which includes freedom to seek, receive or impart information or ideas; freedom of artistic creativity; and academic freedom and freedom of scientific research, this right does not extend to  propaganda for war; incitement to violence; hate speech; or advocacy of hatred that constitutes ethnic incitement, vilification of others or incitement to cause harm.

The Kenya Schools Drama Festival must not be used to violate these rights. Instead, it should be a platform for artistic expression, cultural identity, and national unity while also serving as a training ground for future talents in Kenya’s creative industries.

Drama and play should serve to foster creativity, communication, and critical thinking, while also promoting social skills, empathy, and cultural understanding through performance and role-playing not as tools to indoctrinate students against the government by those in the Opposition. Let us separate our political disagreements with curriculum activities in schools. Schools are for learning not  opposing the government. Teachers don't teach students how to rebel against the government.

As an erudite Literature scholar, I dare ask, how is 'Echoes of war' relevant to the secondary curriculum? Is this education or subtle indoctrination? Using our schools to teach war and rebellion against government cannot work in today's modern world.

Even if we are opposing the government, which is allowed by our Constitution, using school children is unacceptable. Politicians must not be allowed to interfere with extracurricular activities in schools.

At this level of education, our schools should prioritise teaching critical thinking, civic engagement, and respect for democratic processes, rather than promoting conflict or rebellion against the government.

To begin with, the play in question is neither dramatic nor creative. It is way off tangent in as far as the national goals of education with respect to co-curricula activities are concerned because it doesn't foster creativity in the learners. You cannot be creative by using the exact words of a politician in your play. You cannot be creative by scripting a play full of political sloganeering and manifestos, unless the writer has been commissioned to do just that. On this account alone, investigations should be conducted to ascertain how the play reached the national stage.

But do not get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with having a work of art that is wholly based on the political situation and happenings of the society. Indeed apart from the pure entertainment function, a good work of art should be a true reflection of the society.

"Reflection" and not a Jua Kali crass copy and paste of the society. Plato says as much in Chapter 14 of his "Republic" titled, 'The myth of the dark cave'. Writers have used art to creatively reflect and critique their societies using a plethora of literary tools at their disposal. Here I am talking of Ngugi wa Thiong'o and his, I will marry when I want, Shabaan Robert's and his Kusadikika, Henrick Ibsen's An enemy of the people and Nicolai Gogol's The government inspector.

When politicians start using children as human shields, hoping that their opponents will hesitate or look bad for pushing back, it’s not art, it’s manipulation. And they must be held accountable.

Mr Toroitich is a communication lecturer and researcher