AGAINST ALL ODDS

Kawangware primary school pupils and their two teachers pose for photo session at their school

The joy of emerging the best in the concluded 2016 Kenya National Music Festival in the girls’ set piece category cannot be hidden from the team of girls that saw them change the image and perception that has been there about the school in the informal settlement of Kawangware, Nairobi. The talented girls performed uniformly to the rhythm of the violin keenly following their choir conductor Mr. Edward Namiti`S instructions all the way from sub county level to national level held at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi where they were announced the winner of the 2016 girl`s set piece.

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In an exclusive interview at Kawangware primary school, Mr. Edward Namiti who is music composer, arranger, director, adjudicator and trainer in the primary school category said that, Ron de ley ho class 201 Girls` set piece is the song that made the year 2016 very different and special for their school

Edward Namiti: Kawangware School Music Trainer

“Kawangware School was crowned the best choice in Kenya and for the first time we did a song in Latin, unlike past years, this year I have not really struggled because the team had a very good musical background. I didn’t struggle to train them and in fact, we spent very little time training especially during lunch hour and not every day and we still won! So I must say this year was very special year”.

Four trainers including patrons worked very hard to see that the girls took the trophy to their school. As per why we only did a girls` set piece, Namiti says that is about specialization `every music trainer/director in Kenya are known because of entering into certain classes. We are a group of about five schools in Kenya and Kawangware School is among those that perform girls` set pieces very well.



The school head teacher Mrs. Milliam Kelonye, (pictured below) motivates talented children to use their talents as she says this does not affect academic performance as perceived by many.
`Many good things are happening with our children, actually, we are developing an all rounded child because many of our children are participating in different events` says Mrs. Kelonye.

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If you thought working with children is difficult then you got it wrong, these young ones just need to be guided on the direction one wants and they will follow. The team that represented Kawangware Primary School in the 2016 music festivals was not auditioned. Many of them naturally have interest in singing and are determined. This team took the girl set piece trophy from Precious Blood Girl’s High School that won it in the year 2015.

BY TEBBY OTIENO
Tebbyotieno62@gmail.com , @TebbyOtieno
Photographer; Edwin Nyang`au