The Nation (Nairobi)
Anthony Kitimo
30 June 2009
Nairobi — Makande primary school from Mombasa district on Tuesday morning took on stage a western style song as Coast Province nursery, primary and secondary schools music festival kicked off at Mombasa Polytechnic hall.
Schools are expected to show case their music talents in the three days competition with two new music categories: rap music and taarabu being introduced for the first time on stage by the Kenya Music festivals.
This year's Coast festival has recorded the highest number of participants in all categories compared to previous years.
Coast province quality assurance officer Jared Obiero said schools have also taken advantage of hosting the National event next month to participate in the competition.
Mr Obiero said the committee has been forced to hire more facilities to accommodate the large number of participants.
"This year the province has been represented in most of the categories and we have been forced to use five music halls for both music and choral verses compared to last year's three," said Mr Obiero.
The officer said the festivals have been categorised into three groups in order to get the best from each class. He was optimistic coast schools will emerge the winners in majority of the categories during the national event which will be held in Mombasa during August holiday.
"Most of the schools have invested heavily on props and costumes especially in traditional dances and folk songs and we hope to perform better than previous years," said Mr Obiero.
During this year's festivals, Likoni School for the blind proved several schools wrong after they presented majority of the articles which moved the adjudicators and the spectators.
Among those presented by the school of the blind is a lower primary choral verse entitled Kipepeo and they are also expected to perform a song written by Mary Atieno who is blind entitled Yesu Wangu Wanipenda.
Wema Center for the destitute children and Likoni for the Blind is also expected to represent Mombasa district in a special schools competition in Zilizopendwa category.
Some of the articles which the schools are expected to show case in the festival are music both foreign African and foreign languages such as Germany and French.
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