Music extravaganza lights up Kwale

Kwale County Governor Salim Mvurya, March 2016. [Kelvin Karani, Standard]

It was a display of talent at the county amphitheatre in Kwale this week when culture blended by youth was served on stage.

The daylong extravaganza brought troupes from the county’s 20 wards in a major cultural festival, a first in the county since Covid-19 paralysed public gatherings. 

It included traditional dances, folklore, choirs, solo verses, band music and Taarab hits.

Sengenya dance, a traditional dance, stole the show at the festivals but other items such as Makonde dance, Zandale, Mazera Gozi, Taarab, and folklore pieces were equally entertaining.

Kenya Cultural Centre Chief Executive Officer Michael Pundo summed it up: “Kwale has bounced back to the national level in talent and culture.”

Mr Pundo was one of the guests who graced the colourful event that was also attended by Governor Salim Mvurya and his Deputy Fatuma Achani.

“This is an important, historical event coming after a year of absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Every group or individual has demonstrated great talent of high quality.

“These great talents shown here today give me total confidence that we shall emerge winners at the national festivals slated for Mombasa next week. Winning is Kwale’s tradition not only in culture but sports and other sectors,” said Mvurya (pictured below).

Groups that presented items included those from the Digo, Duruma, Kikuyu, Maasai and Makonde communities, all from Kwale County.

“You have seen the groups and individuals that presented items here today are multi-ethnic but all are Kwale residents and many of them women,” said the governor.

“That shows we are a multi-cultural society and therefore, let none of those gunning for elective positions next year come here branding a tribal or gender slogan for election. Women, like men, can lead. Reject such perpetrators.” 

The governor said that in 14 days, a state-of-the-art recording studio built by the county government will be opened at the Kwale Cultural Centre to enable all groups and individuals to record their works.

He said this was a major boost to local artistes and performers.