2017 Kenya Drama Festival
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Cats![/caption]
God gives the gift of creativity. eduKenya is privileged to help our students discover and find opportunities to share those gifts with thanksgiving and for God’s glory.
The Kenya School Calendar is divided into three terms. The Ministry of Education designates specific co-curricular activities during the first two terms: Drama Festival the 1st term, and Music Festival and Sports Competitions the 2nd term. There are no competitive activities during the 3rd term, to allow students to prepare for National Examinations.Mawewa School children have taken part in the Kenya Music Festival for several years. In 2017, Mawewa students are also participating in the Kenya Drama Festival. Each production requires costumes, props, and backdrops, which can be expensive, so more schools choose to take part in the music festival compared to the drama festival. Mawewa School is blessed to have an in-house carpenter to make the props, and the eduKenya Skill Training Department designs and makes all costumes.Easing into the competition, students entered three out of six categories: Swahili Narrative, Dramatized Solo Verse, and Play. The Swahili Narrative “Mbilikimo Mkora,” performed by Esther M., Class 4, placed 2nd in the Kasarani (local) competition and 8th at the County level.Ryan K., Grade 7, performed and won 1st place with a solo verse, “Nightmares of Direction,” at the Kasarani and County competitions, earning him a spot at the Regionals, taking place March 15 & 16. Ryan is no stranger to representing Mawewa School with his artistic skills. In 2016, Ryan won 5th place in Public Speaking at the National level of the Kenya Music Festival.[caption id="attachment_3541" align="aligncenter" width="565"]
Places, everyone![/caption]The play, “At the Zoo,” was written and directed by Ochieng B. Ochieng, a drama expert hired by Mawewa School to train students and staff in the art and skill of acting and stagecraft. The play addressed environmental issues surrounding the fate of animals in a game reserve. The entire 6th Grade class performed the play at the Kasarani and County levels, winning a 1st and 2nd place, respectively. They also move on to Regionals. The casting of “At the Zoo” surprised students and teachers alike, as a few of the more reticent students found their artistic voices and landed main roles.Mawewa School’s participation in the drama and music festivals introduces our students to performing arts education and helps develop their confidence, creativity, perseverance, focus, collaboration, and accountability. Additionally, participation in events outside Mathare exposes the students to other Kenyan traditions and promotes the preservation of Kenya’s rich cultural heritage. eduKenya is proud to see our students advance to higher levels in the drama competition, but we are prouder still of the transformation of their minds and characters through the opportunities we provide.