There was shock at the 92nd edition of the annual Kenya National Drama and Film Festival when minions Mukuuni High School from Eastern emerged top, felling giants including the incumbent Riara Springs Girls Secondary School from Nairobi.
Their play, Player N, is a performance depicting a boy Jabali who lives in a bandit-prone area. The school coach identifies his talent and encourages the rest of the lads in the neighborhood to join football.
So exciting it becomes to play football that warring neighbors decide to drop the banditry gun and play joint tournaments. This newfound unity is recognised and the Talanta Hela programme injects finances to put up a stadium.
This becomes the last nail in the coffin of incessant banditry that had caused generations of untold suffering and loss. “We were impressed not only with the choice of the child-centered story, the audience appreciated the ease in which the actors rendered this story on stage,” said one of the adjudicators delivering the results last night amid celebrations.
Friends School Kamusinga with their play, Pressure, was second as Shimo La Tewa took third position in this competitive fete that saw so much talent and creativity.
Visa Oshwal snatched victory from the jaws of Lions Primary as Westlands Primary School directed by Hannington Ochieng pulled a bronze in the primary schools play category.
Buruburu Girls with their creative cultural dance, Jalupo, directed by Patrick Ngere, made it big with a definitive win bringing pride to Nairobi County in a class previously dominated by schools from Western and Nyanza.
Jalupo won the best soloist going to the quintessential Mercy Deborah as well as best choreography, best costumes and decor among other accolades.
Shadrack Kimale Secondary School came second as Kivaywa High School from Eastern pulled a respectable third.
Moi Nairobi Girls Secondary punchy win with their choral verse, Angela, produced by Margaret Njaga was stamp of authority from the capital city beating giants Bungoma High School from Western to a pulp.
Angela directed by Mwalawati Amondo and written by Isaac Kiminywi is a beautiful story of tribulations and triumph of a house girl who during school vacations is badly influenced by an older man Jemo. She wriggles herself out of his treacherous trap and escapes the drug abuse snare.
Migosi Primary School from Kisumu is one of the few that defended their title, emerging top with the cultural creative dance, Otonglo.
The cast of Shonnel Candy, Ruth Akinyi, Marius Ogutu, Phidelia and Lucy Adhiambo were a synchronised act leading their troops to a lovely story on children’s talent in music that goes ahead to unlock financial challenges in the family.
The amazing choreography, music, direction and production vindicate Orwel Oyoo. Rose Omollo was a safe pair of hands with this kind of stagecraft.
Hosts Kangaru School clinched the best modern creative dance followed by Kodero Bara and Tumaini School respectively.
Eldoret National Polytechnic directed by all-rounder Paul Kisali, proved to be a hard nut to crack as they too defended their cultural creative dance mantle. They also won with the play at the TVET section.
County Secondary School from Nairobi cracked the audience emerging top with the best comedy. Friends School Kamusinga had something to smile about after their narrative was given gold ahead of Lwak Girls and Ringa Secondary both from Nyanza.
During the winner's gala, Education CS Ezekiel Machogu said the government has put in place measures to digitise and monetise the performances. “CBC is geared towards mainstream creative arts as one if the major pathways in the curriculum," he said.
Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development CEO Charles Ong’ondo said over Sh1 million has already been earned through online platforms where productions at the fete are displayed.
“This year we had over 23,000 participants compared to 15,000 last year, showing a big growth," said the Festival National Chairman CJ Odhiambo.
President William Ruto will host winners at a State Concert end of this week.
