Mt Kenya varsity dominates music festival with 54 performances

Luisa Achieng’ of St Augustine Nyamonye Girls Secondary School from Siaya County rehearses during the Kenya Music Festival at Dedan Kimathi University in Nyeri on August 14, 2018. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • MKU, who were last year’s overall winners in the universities category, won in most categories presented on Monday and Tuesday.
  • The Kiswahili choral verse set piece category for universities attracted 11 entries.

Mt Kenya University once again dominated in the higher education category, presenting 54 items, in the ongoing Kenya National Music Festival at Dedan Kimathi University, Nyeri County.

MKU, who were last year’s overall winners in the universities category, won in most categories presented on Monday and Tuesday.

Their Zilizopendwa (golden oldies) dance was declared the best item in the category.

The university also won in the girls’ choir category, Tharaka folk song as well as Kimeru, Maasai, Luhya and Kisii folk dance categories.

They also won in the Kikuyu folk dance category, where they presented Mwomboko, a celebration dance performed by both men and women.

UNBEATABLE
In all the dance categories, performers had costumes unique to communities the dances came from.

They were also unbeatable in the "2-jiajiri" category sponsored by Kenya Commercial Bank, an English and Swahili verse speaking category promoting self-employment.

The director of MKU’s Institute of Film and Performing Arts, Ms Ruth Mutahi, attributed the university's success to dedication by trainers and students.

She said that the institution picks and trains the best performers in music and drama and they are always rehearsing and perfecting their performances.

In the Baganda cultural dance category, MKU was beaten to second position by Kibabii University.

CULTURAL DANCE

MKU also won in the Kiswahili solo verse category, which featured Technical University of Mombasa (Tum), Pwani University, University of Eldoret and the Co-operative University of Kenya.

The Kiswahili choral verse set piece category for universities attracted 11 entries. The verse, Chama chetu by Kandoro Saadani featured Tum, Pwani University, Jkuat and Lukenya University and others. The category was won by MKU (Nakuru Campus).
On Tuesday, secondary schools performed in the Maasai, Samburu, Rendille and Taveta traditional cultural dance category. Among those who featured were Chavakali secondary, Moi Forces Academy Nairobi, Kijabe boys, Maasai Mara, Narok and Marsabit high schools.