By Martin Ruto
Celebrated teacher of music Jacob Nyavanga, an award winning tutor who was feted by the late President Daniel arap Moi is now enjoying his retirement in Tran Nzoia County.
The man whose choirs entertained Presidents and Pope John Paul 11 left a mark in Kenya’s choir industry.
After teaching in many schools in Rift Valley, he was later rose to the rank of Director of Administration Presidential Music Commission, a position he held until his retirement.
Mr. Nyavanga however remains a sterling composer, trainer and director of music for groups which invite him among them the Ninga Melodies based in Nairobi.
Mr. Nyavanga`s face beams with a wide smile as he expresses his delight that members of the Ninga Melodies his most recent project are now making a living through music.
Apart from students, he also composes and trains church choirs and groups through invitation.
Music has enabled him to travel to all the 47 counties and helped him to understand the cultural behavior of the Kenyan communities and the respect they have for each other.
Music he says took him to Washington DC in the US for 3 weeks, Tanzania, Lesotho, Uganda and many other places in the rest of the world.
The much experienced music composer, trainer and director is happy for the achievements he made in music including the introduction of the teaching and development of African traditional music instruments both in the school curriculum and in church music.
He now urges each and every one with talent in music to explore and use it properly.
“Music educates, makes people earn a living, changes people’s behavior positively and also entertains”, Mr. Nyavanga said.
When Pope John Paul the 2nd of the Roman Catholic Church visited Kenya in 1997, he took his choir from Kacheliba Girls High School choir to sing for him.
“We were accorded the privilege of entertaining the Pope at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport during his arrival,” said Nyavanga.
The choir also performed during the mass presided over by the Pope and also at the Resurrection gardens.
Nyavanga who was born in 1955 in Kaimosi Vihiga County started his primary education at Eldama Ravin Primary School, Baringo County where his father was working.
He then proceeded to Baringo High school for his secondary education and thereafter joined Kaimosi Teachers Training College to train as a P1 teacher.
After successfully finishing the two year course, he was posted to Eldama Ravin Primary School where he taught and trained music for 5 yearrs and also trained music at the Baringo High School choir.
It was while he was still training music in Eldama Ravine Primary that the late president Moi noticed his great talent and promoted him from P1 teacher to approved teacher 3.
Mr. Nyavanga was energized by the promotion which made him to enroll for a Diploma course at Kagumo Teachers Training College for a three years in-service course.
From Eldama Ravine, he was transferred to Ortum Boys Primary in West Pokot County, where he continued composing powerful music and training pupils.
His immense talent was again noticed by the Teachers Service Commission which promoted him to a secondary school teachers at Chewoyet High School in 1990.
Since Chewoyet High School was not offering music as a subject, he was transferred to Kacheliba Girl`s High school.
He then introduced African Traditional music instruments into the Kenya Music Festivals through annual competitions for primary schools, high schools, colleges and universities.
He boosted the mean score at Kacheliba Girls High School in music to above 10.
The turning point for Mr. Nyavanga life and career came in 2002 when he was promoted and transferred to the Presidential Music Commission as a Director in Charge of Administration.
His role was to oversee quality presidential, state and national entertainment.
With full dedication, commitment and patriotism he performed this role for a record of 15 yrs and was accorded Head of State commendation (HSC) by President Kibaki for his immense contribution to music.
Mr. Nyavanga is proud of the rich entertainments he organized during the national day celebrations by inviting small communities like the Elmolo, Sengwer, Sabaot, Turkana, Tugen and Pokot to perform.
