By Fredrick Odiero
Kenyatta University (KU) proved its supremacy in Music by emerging winners in four categories at the ongoing Kenya Music festival fete in Kisumu.
The triumphant choir under its Director, Mr. Sylvester Otieno won in classes 692, 621, 822 and 822.
What kept the audience on its edge was the song ‘All is Right’ by Lucky Dube where reggae fans rose up in applause under the Zilizopendwa category.
Mr. Otieno who works in the Department of Music at the University said that it took a lot of dedication, good management and a dedicated director to come up with the team.
Kenyatta University choir Director Mr. Sylvester Otieno.
The choirmaster said that he started practicing music while in Class Three at Nangina Primary school before proceeding to St. Marys’ High school Yala where he was a regular member of the school choir and later went to the University of Dar es Salaam where he further honed his musical skills.
Other universities which were well placed in that category included Moi University and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).
Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Professor George Magoha who officially opened the event at Kisumu Girls High school challenged Kenyan playwrights and music composers to create local content that promotes national values, moral values and peaceful co-existence.
Education Cabinet Secretary Professor George Magoha poses with some participants at the Kenya Music Festival in Kisumu
Prof. Magoha said investments made for drama and theatre festivals for schools and colleges should be fashioned to generate employment and income.
“This will be good for publicity of budding actors, thespians, singers, orators, reciters, scriptwriters and directors,” he said.
The CS said Kenyans should not continue watching foreign soap operas and wrestling shows as core content on the national TV stations.
“Kenya is yearning for local productions, but our indifference has handed foreign soaps, some simplistic, unnecessary prominence and infiltration on our screens. It is very possible for various government agencies to partner in improving the Festival’s finals scripts and put them on the market,” suggested Magoha.
He observed that there were many agencies that needed the services of the creative industry and the Ministry of Education was willing to provide leadership in formalizing these partnerships and giving the budding creatives structures so that drama and music performances are functional at a personal and societal level.
Prof. Magoha further stated that music, drama and theatre were good catalysts for social transformation.
Nairobi Academy choir on stage at the Festivals in Kisumu
He added that the skits and productions were potential tools in solving societal problems, communicating ideas, teach, raise consciousness and provide a livelihood for those with talent and the technical know-how.
The CS who was flanked by Kisumu Governor, Anyang Nyong’o and the Festival’s National Chairman Peter Wanjohi said it was high time the county transformed the Festivals from the annual ritual event to the creative industry it ought to be.
Mr. Wanjohi observed that the event had attracted participants and teachers from ECDE centres, Special Needs institutions, Primary Schools, Teacher Training Colleges and Universities.
State corporations threw their weight behind various themes with the Communications Authority of Kenya (CAK) sponsoring topics that promoted responsible and safe use of social media and online platforms.
He noted that over 600 items had already been showcased by the institutions so far.
“Music is a very powerful tool of communication. It transcends boundaries and has been shown to promote togetherness and peace among people of diverse backgrounds. In Kenya we must start slaying the dragon of ethnicity through performing arts,” said Wanjohi.
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