The 63rd edition of the annual Kenya Schools and Colleges National Drama and Film Festival opened to a great start at Melvin Jones, Nakuru County with the government urging creators to monetise their talent.
Alliance High School staged a French play titled: Eugenie et Genevieve that revolves around a father who struggles to make his children pursue a career that he prefers rather than what they want to do in life. Will the two siblings give in?
Kaaga Girls High School staged a Kiswahili Play produced by Eunice Maeke about parenting while Moi Girls School Nairobi presented a choral and a solo verse.
The choral verse, Wambo , encourages students to have a balance between co-curricular activities and academic work. It encourages students to mind their studies as much as they are talented in drama to have an all-rounded outcome.
The solo verse, Toilet Walls explores the mental trauma and insecurities that lead students into bullying. It calls upon students to seek help from teachers when they are faced with insecurities.
Moi Girls School, Nairobi which has made it to the East African Drama and Dance festivals three times after winning the national festivals will make an attempt to make it four wins. According to Isaac Kimwiywi, the script writer and director, the school has achieved the feats consistently due to hard work, fresh approach and discipline.
“The chief principal, Margaret Njagga, has always been supportive of the craft and personally comes to support the girls each year. That support encourages the students in morale and motivates them to do their best,” said Mr Kimwiywi.
Mkunumbi Secondary from Lamu West, Lamu County moved the audience with a solo verse titled The Whispering Pod . The verse talks about responsible use of phones in learning.
A boy is given a phone but he uses it to cheat in examinations. He is caught and he pleads for forgiveness. After forgiveness, he is made to clean walls and corridors at school.
The script is written and directed by Kennedy Keya and produced by the school principal, Martha Kiminza.
Ramba School from Nyanza region presented a choral verse, Yitafunguka . The verse revolves around a community that does not value education despite learners getting sponsorship from a local bank. Finally, they agree and students come up with a variety of inventions.
Agik George said the energy displayed on stage by the boys is a result of hunger which they manifested on to bring out that stellar and energised performance
Kitengela International Schools from the Rift Valley region presented a choral verse, Sherehe about the plight of persons with disability.
Diversity and inclusivity
The Principal Secretary for Basic Education, Prof Julius Bitok, was the chief guest during the official opening. He lauded the festival for its diversity and inclusivity since its inception.
Others present during the ceremony included the national chairperson, Prof CJ Odhiambo, and the director-general of education, Dr Elyas Abdi.
Prof Bitok asked young people to make positive content on social media instead of taking all the time feeding their accounts with negativity.
"Don't abuse science and technology," he said whilst officiating the official opening of the festival at Melvin Jones Hall.
