Learners from Narok North and Central sub-counties participated in musical festivals that helped them exhibit their talents during primary school music festivals that were held at Maasai Mara University Model Primary School in Narok County.
Featuring an array of remarkable performances by lower-grade learners and junior secondary learners, they captivated the audience and celebrated the incredible musical prowess of the young performers.
Ole Sankale Primary School head teacher Nicholas Kimorgo, who is also Narok north and central sub-county music festival chairman, said they held the event in order to encourage young learners to continue to exploit and nurture their talents.
“Music festivals have not been done for quite some time. Music festivals play a vital role and help teachers spot learners’ talents at an early age,” noted Mr. Kimorgo.
According to Kimorgo, the festival brought together students from various schools within the subcounty. The air buzzed with excitement as participants eagerly awaited their turn to showcase their musical talents and entertain the audience.
Elizabeth Ng’otiek, a Maasai Mara University Model Primary School teacher, said they had hosted over 23 primary schools that drew over 1,000 learners to participate in the event from the sub-counties.
“Learners come together to showcase their talents and also learn from one another through poems, folk songs, and other music items. This came as part of CBC, and we should embrace it,” Ng’otiek noted.
David Kaleku, Oloontulan Primary School teacher, said he has been training Maasai traditional folksong by using unique methods and styles in order to incorporate digital life and help pass traditions to the younger generations.
“I have been teaching Maasai folk songs to the learners for quite some time now. This acts as a way to celebrate culture and pass important messages, wisdom, and guidance to the young learners,” said Kaleku.
He added that they help the young learners and the audience know when the songs are performed, for example, in weddings, initiations, and other traditional celebrations.
He noted that music festivals have continued to grow, especially since the introduction of CBC, and have helped leverage the energies and opportunities available for learners.
Oloontoto Primary School headteacher Moses Mbatiany, the sub-county music festival treasurer, said the music festivals served as a testament to the importance of music education in the Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) and that it transforms the power of shaping learners’ minds.
“CBC has brought back the learning of music in classes, and this ensures that learners are actively engaged in the curriculum and have opportunities to demonstrate their understanding and skills through music performances,” Mbatiany added.
Further, Mbatiany said the co-curricular activities play an important role in the well-being of the learners in schools.
In addition, Oloontualan primary school teacher Loise Adinga, a poet trainer, said poems serve as repositories of collective memory, capturing the values, traditions, and narratives of a particular time and place.
“Poems can convey universal truths and offer unique insights into the human condition, creating empathy and understanding,” said Adinga.
The music festival served as an inspiration for young learners and performers to pursue their passion and continue honing their musical talents, promising a future brimming with harmonious melodies and captivating performances.
The musical festival features folk songs, traditional dances, set pieces, poems, and original compositions.
By John Kaleke and Eunice Ngatia
