By Norah Musega
The Director of South Nyanza Regional Technical Training Institutions, Tom Olango, has called on local media houses to promote theatre arts and other forms of talents from students and local artists to help promote and export Kenyan talent to the world stage.
Speaking during Kenya Association of Technical Training Institutes Regional Drama and Film Festival held at Migori Teachers Training College, the Director noted that learners have adequate talent natured in schools through such competitions and that needs support by all stakeholders.
Olango however lamented that local media outlets give a lot of airtime to programs or drama done by citizens in other countries, shutting down space for local artists in the country.
He noted that the event give opportunity to learners to showcase different talents and creativity in art and that the plays take major roles in changing lifestyles and help in earning a living.
“Our local media outlets should have a paradigm shift on their preference to non-local talents and to give more airtime to local talents. They should consider recruiting local talents in their broadcasting activities and ensur the arrangement becomes collaborative in nature,” said Olango.
He called on all journalists and media practitioners to get involved and take part in drama festivals to help promote and recruiting local talents besides the differences in style of the various media houses.
He pleaded for opportunities to be given to students in higher learning institutions to motivate more learners taking part in the drama and film activities.
“Talents are a source of lucrative income and we have people we can mention from within our society who have excelled and are earning a living through drama and film making or participating and also content creation,” he added.
17 technical training institutions from South Nyanza region which has a total of 34 institutions took part in the activities held last week.
