Newbies Lakesite School star at Kisumu Music Festivals

Lakesite's Benter Obera performs a solo verse during the Kisumu Central Sub-County music festivals at Victoria Primary.[Washington Onyango,Standrd]

Bneter Obera who is in Grade Seven wowed the adjudicators with a Swahili verse 'Akufaye kwa Dhiki' which depicted the importance of friendship and how to treat your friends.

"My dream is not only to reach the nationals but also go to Rwanda for the Africa music festivals. I want to show the world that Kenya has talent apart from making my family proud," said the 12-year-old pupil.

Manyatta Arabs performs Arabic Religious Song.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

Kisumu Sub-County Music Festival Secretary Richard Amollo told the Standard that over 100 Primary and Secondary schools combined participated in the three-day event as they aim at sending a strong team to the county levels.

Amolo who also doubles as Arya Primary School music teacher called upon more schools to participate in the music festivals.

"I am kindly requesting that head of the various primary and secondary institutions to support talent and register their schools for these festivals. Music pays and we need to start nurtuting our children's talents from down here. You never know the future," said Amolo.

Some of the themes schools competed in included promoting safe use of internet, promoting appropriate online behavior, avoiding online vices, elections in Kenya, cultural heritage, infrastructure and development among others.

Manyatta Primary perfomes a dance during the Kisumu Centarl Music Festival.[Washington Onyango,Standard]

A popular piece among Kenyans and which is always performed and danced during national events, sport games and public gatherings, Isukuti dance is a traditional celebratory performance practiced among the Isukha and Idakho communities of Western Kenya.

It takes the form of a fast-paced, energetic and passionate dance accompanied by drumming and singing.

The Kisumu County festivals will be hosted at Maseno School from June 19 before the Nyanza regionals in Migori next month.