Nairobi, Kenya | Thursday 19 August 2010
Africa in a Pot: The Kenya National Music Festival
One week of performances, colours, dances and rhythms of Africa.
By Arianna Azzolini
It was Africa all in one pot at the 84th edition of the annual Kenya National Music Festival that took place between August 9 – 14 in Kakamega,Western Kenya
The venue, Masinde MuliroUniversity, was literally invaded by school buses from all over the East African country, with over 80,000 participants coming to perform at the cultural event. Security was tight with over 200 police officers deployed in the surrounding areas.
The festival was initially supposed to start on August 6 but was postponed and its duration reduced from ten days to seven because of a national referendum vote on a new constitution.
From primary schools to colleges, young Kenyans took to the stage representing their provinces with traditional songs, dance, poetry and gospel music. Every school brought to Kakamega some unique aspect of their regional culture, colorful clothes, body paintings, songs and of course barefoot dances to the rhythm of traditional African drums.
The world-renowned Maasai tribe presented a harvest dance, the Luhya tribe performed a circumcision ceremony alongside dances from Tanzania, Uganda and from all around Kenya, ranging from marriage ceremonies, gospel chants and much more.
“The students are excited because the festival is an important moment of meeting other cultures of Kenya and socializing with other young people. They are also aware of the significant role it has for keeping the traditions and cultures alive among the new generations,” said Mr. Vincent Karino, a teacher at Domus Marie School, representing the Rift Valley Province with a Tanzanian harvest dance and a Kenyan popular dance.
The festival was sponsored by Mumias Sugar Company, which accommodated many of the participants inside the company’s schools and spent $75,000 on the event.
Excited and nervous, all of the performers went on stage successfully. The overall winner was Nairobi School and the best 24 groups will perform before President Mwai Kibaki at State House in Nairobi on August 18.
It was Africa all in one pot at the 84th edition of the annual Kenya National Music Festival that took place between August 9 – 14 in Kakamega,Western Kenya
The venue, Masinde MuliroUniversity, was literally invaded by school buses from all over the East African country, with over 80,000 participants coming to perform at the cultural event. Security was tight with over 200 police officers deployed in the surrounding areas.
The festival was initially supposed to start on August 6 but was postponed and its duration reduced from ten days to seven because of a national referendum vote on a new constitution.
From primary schools to colleges, young Kenyans took to the stage representing their provinces with traditional songs, dance, poetry and gospel music. Every school brought to Kakamega some unique aspect of their regional culture, colorful clothes, body paintings, songs and of course barefoot dances to the rhythm of traditional African drums.
The world-renowned Maasai tribe presented a harvest dance, the Luhya tribe performed a circumcision ceremony alongside dances from Tanzania, Uganda and from all around Kenya, ranging from marriage ceremonies, gospel chants and much more.
“The students are excited because the festival is an important moment of meeting other cultures of Kenya and socializing with other young people. They are also aware of the significant role it has for keeping the traditions and cultures alive among the new generations,” said Mr. Vincent Karino, a teacher at Domus Marie School, representing the Rift Valley Province with a Tanzanian harvest dance and a Kenyan popular dance.
The festival was sponsored by Mumias Sugar Company, which accommodated many of the participants inside the company’s schools and spent $75,000 on the event.
Excited and nervous, all of the performers went on stage successfully. The overall winner was Nairobi School and the best 24 groups will perform before President Mwai Kibaki at State House in Nairobi on August 18.