They sing, they dance, and their energy never wanes. The much-anticipated university drama festival is a vibrant showcase of talent, creativity and cultural heritage.
Graced by top government officials, it highlighted the vital role played by the Kenya University Performing Arts Association (KUPAA) in shaping students’ lives and nurturing their potential.
Eunice Wakofula, representing the Principal Secretary (PS) in the State Department for Higher Education and Research Dr Beatrice Inyangala, underscored the significance of university-level performances, stating: “The role of these performances is not just to identify talent but to bridge students with the industry. I believe talent is recognized at the grassroots level; basic education, now, we must treat it with the maturity it deserves.”
She further emphasized that the Ministry of Education (MoE) fully supports performing arts and encourages the organizers of this festival, as well as the KUPAA music and elocution festival, to continue nurturing talent.
The festival, now in its 6th edition, has witnessed an exceptional rise in participation and performance quality as highlighted by Briantone Masakha, the Student Council Secretary General.
He described KUPAA as “a locomotive in motion, stopping at nothing until it reaches its destination,” outlining that within the next two years, KUPAA’s ambition is to fully commercialize art, ensuring that students reap tangible benefits from their creativity.
Masakha also mentioned that KUPAA aims to boost the creative economy by producing its own films and publishing student-authored books at affordable rates.
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This season has seen an impressive number of entrants in newly introduced genres alongside the ever-popular historical and indigenous plays and dances—genres that deeply resonate with Africa’s rich cultural heritage.
A standout performance was Egerton University’s indigenous play “Mwana ni Mwana,” written and directed by one John Kamau Karanja, which told the harrowing story of Waitherero, a villager whose twin children were sacrificed due to the cultural belief that twins bring curses.
A queen, the enforcer of the same law, finds herself in a moral dilemma when she gives birth to twins herself. Waitherero seeks justice for her own twins, leading to the clash between the old ways and the desire for change.
The festival, which runs until November 16, will conclude with a grand beauty pageant where Mr. and Miss Universities Kenya will be crowned as a celebration of the dedication and artistry of student models.
High ranking government officials and representatives from the president’s office are expected to attend the closing ceremony, solidifying the event’s significance in the nation’s cultural and educational landscape.
By Ombija TJ Odhiambo
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