Music festivals: Children enthrall with singing games
Olympic Primary School took first place in the African Singing Games category.
A Western-style singing game genre thrilled audiences during the first day of the 97th edition of the Kenya Music Festival in Meru School, Meru County, on Monday.
Competitors in the pre-school category from schools drawn from all corners of the country captivated spectators with their melodious voices and choreographed dances.
Some of the notable performers included Vingujini School from the Coast, Kericho Primary, Multiple Academy from Central, Kanzokea Primary from Eastern, Nairobi’s Kianda School, Angorom from Western, St Lazarus Primary from Nyanza, Jomo Kenyatta School from Mombasa, and Barani Primary, also from the coast.
Performances featured mostly foreign singing games infused with a local cultural flavour, making for some of the most entertaining and colourful presentations of the day.
Kianda School emerged as the winners in the Western Singing Games category, followed by Kericho Primary in second place, Njegu Primary in third, Imani Primary in fourth and St Lazarus and Shifco schools tying in fifth.
In the African Singing Games category, Olympic Primary School took first place, followed by Agenga Primary in second, Soiin Crest in third and a tie for fourth between Marmantio and Carol Academy.
Kenya Navy Primary presents a coastal folk song During the Kenya National Music Festival at Moi Girls Eldoret on August 4, 2024.
Olympic Primary’s winning piece depicted children inviting each other to come and play. While playing, they showcased various talents such as cooking, dancing, rope-skipping, and pretending to be fishermen.
They then mimicked each other's actions—a creative and joyful portrayal of childhood play. The piece was choreographed by Mr Hezekiah Ogira and Ms Irene Atieno.
One of the adjudicators, Dr Jane Mwongela, praised the performers for their well-coordinated movements and creativity. Kanzokea Primary from the Eastern region also drew attention with their lively presentation.
Tarbaj Teachers Training College presented a Somali folk song that celebrates the joy of wedding ceremonies. This performance was part of Class 675 and was trained by Mr Galgallo Guyo, a tutor at the college.
Mr Guyo is a seasoned trainer, having led Wajir Girls to the East African competition in 2023 and Jogbaru Girls to the national level in 2024.
He now aims to take Tarbaj Teachers Training College to the gala at State House and all the way to the East Africa Festival.
Kibabii Diploma Teachers Training College entertained the crowd with a vibrant Bukusu folk song, while Migori TTC presented a soulful Ramogi folk song.
During the official opening of the festival, Meru Governor Isaac Mutuma welcomed all participants “on behalf of the people of Meru County”.
He highlighted Meru County's ongoing strategic investments in youth empowerment, education, technical training, digital literacy and inclusive development.
Meanwhile, the East Africa Music, Dance, and Drama Festival 2025 is set to be held in Kampala, Uganda, from August 19–24 at King’s College in Budo.
Meru Teachers Training College students present a Borana folk song.
A high-powered delegation from Kenya, led by Mr Nelson Sifuna from the Ministry of Education's Directorate of Field Coordination, alongside Mr James Indimuli, executive secretary of the drama festival, and Ms Janet Langat, executive secretary of the Kenya Music Festival, recently visited Uganda for planning and site inspections.
Winners of this year’s Drama and Film Festival, held in Nakuru, will represent Kenya in Kampala. Moi High School Mbiruri from Eastern will lead the play category with their hilarious performance titled "Classmates."
Winners from the ongoing music festival in Meru (August 3–16) will also represent Kenya in Uganda.
