Brilliant performances as music festival starts

Pomp, colour and brilliant performances punctuated the 96th edition of the Kenya Music Festival that kicked off yesterday in Eldoret.

More than 130,000 students converged at Moi Girls High School, Eldoret for the exhilarating festival which runs until August 14.

The national music festivals will culminate in a state concert after ten days.

Participants from Rift Valley, Nairobi, Western, Central, Coast, North Eastern, Eastern and Nyanza have been trooping to Eldoret since Friday.

Talented school children started doling out their brilliant musical renditions in the event themed Talent Development for Growth of the Creative Economy.

Eldoret is hosting the 12-day national music festival for the first time since the inaugural edition 96 years ago. Bumuyange Primary School from Vihiga, Western region were among schools that showcased their children’s plays.

Masimbani Primary School, representing the Coast region presented an African folk song titled Kalyet (meaning peace in Kalenjin) under Class 273. Their performance called for peace, saying calmness was important for society’s progress.

There was also Wangu Primary from Nairobi, which presented a folk song titled Kongoi (thank you) and Morulem Primary school from Turkana which performed a children’s play called ‘my mother.’

To show them the fruits of the festivals, an artiste whose talent was nurtured through school music festivals was called to entertain.

Josphat Koech, known by his stage name Jose Jose, entertained guests at the opening ceremony with a song titled Maunye (I don’t hide my love).

Top education officials said Kenyan schools were rich in music, theatre and film talents among others.

Basic Education Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang described the festival’s performances as inspiring.

“130,000 learners are participating in the Kenya Music Festival. Music, dance and film among other arts are part of our creative economy,” Kipsang said.

The PS said the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) is using the event to create awareness on the place of creative performances in learning.

“There is excitement across the country as the festival gets underway. We will be putting up art galleries and studios across the country to provide space for artistes to grow their talents. At the school level, talent centres have been mapped out and will become talent centres,” he said.

He said 468 teachers have been promoted based on their contributions to creative performances.

Kenya Music Festival chairman Prof Fredrick Ngala said teams from Uganda and Tanzania were invited to make it international. He said the festival is exhibiting traditional musical instruments for the first time in its history.

He said an ICT system is used to relay the results of the festival, giving parents the opportunity to follow the performances from the comfort of their homes.

He further said more students with special needs are taking part under the inclusive education policy.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jonathan Bii said the festival coincides with the award of city charter to Eldoret, a ceremony set for August 8.