Oliver Minishi inducted into Hall of Fame

When Oliver Minishi rose to receive the Creative and Cultural Artistes Welfare Association (CCAWA) Hall of Fame induction trophy from Education Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang last week, the full house at the imposing Melvin Jones Hall rose in deafening applause to honour a drama icon through whose hands many scripts, productions and young thespians have passed.

For a man whose journey into theatre was most unexpected, Minishi has achieved so much and can easily fit in the shoes of such greats as Francis Imbuga, Opiyo Mumma, Kithaka wa Mberia, only that the man has not had his plays published as books. What he has done with his stories for stage could easily make up for this deficit.

Very few can match his record in churning out such great talent of actors, directors and choreographers who today define the landscaped of performing arts in Kenyan and beyond. This year he brought the play Resuscitation, depicting a leadership wallowing in the miasma of greed as its subjects writhe in abject poverty, not even able to afford drinking water.

Controversial win

His other plays include Tempest which also became number two last year and his last win was two years ago in Mombasa under controversial circumstances given the play that had beaten it in the regionals Butere High School’s Shackles of Doom by his own former student Cleophas Malalah had been banned and later on allowed by the High court to show at Aga Khan High School hall.

“Most playwrights and directors in the Kenya Schools and Colleges Drama Festival today have learnt from Minishi’s creative genius and he has won and created many winners. He is a pillar of the festival and he earns respect from across the board,” said the CCAWA Chairman Evans Munala.

Over the years the drama fete who this year marked their 56th birthday, would be no festival without Kakamega High School where he teaches Physics and Chemistry and from where he rose to the rank of the Principal a decade ago.

As it were, any time Kakamega High performed, the hall was filled to the brim with many craning from the windows outside to catch a glimpse of this creative genius’ work.

In the just concluded fete in Nakuru the school won the Most Prolific institution overall and came out with second positions in English play as well as French plays and many Best actors awards going their way.

Among the products of Minishi include Derrick Waswa who directed and won with Kenyatta University this year and last year.

The other is Wenslaus Masinde who today heads drama at Green Springs school, Lagos Nigeria and who for the last four years has been flying in his theatre students to come and learn from the very best in Kenya. And the list is endless. Ever indefatigable juggling through many activities Minishi says his was not a walk in the park.

“Year in year out, I would be beaten by Barnabas Kasigwa at the nationals and I almost gave up until Prof Imbuga gave me the secret,” recalls Minishi after winning the coveted trophy that was last won by the late Kasigwa for the former’s role at Moi High School Kabarak.

Minishi explains that the tipping point as disclosed by his mentor Imbuga was that Kasigwa would use a composite stage whilst he was too preoccupied with setting his plays in a sitting room with sofa sets, beds and such.

Sigh of relief

And with that Minishi and Kakamega has never looked back, winning the most in the history of the National drama fete so much so that this year when the school did not bring a dance item, it was almost a sigh of relief for many.

Dagoretti High School under Hudson Wafula navigated its way to the top of the dance and beautifully defended the title they wrested from Kakamega High two years ago.

With his effort to grow the arts even at a time when other school heads frowned upon students getting into theatre, music and sports, Kakamega High School was appointed as one of the satellite National talent Academy Centres in the country.

United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) sponsors the centre.

“This was a very positive move by drama fraternity to reconsider his efforts and it is quite some revitalisation. I am sure it reinvigorated him. And from a man who has been on the receiving for his sustained creativity, this was timely and a befitting award,” said Mr Wycliffe Indakwa, the Senior Master and coordinator of the National Talent Academy at the school.

During the colourful award ceremony, The Standard journalist George Orido, won the CCAWA Journalist of the Year Award.

“Orido’s consistent, balanced, in-depth and accurate reporting of the festival over the years adding much value.”