Social change and innovation to dominate schools Drama and Film Festival
Education
By
Mike Kihaki
| Apr 02, 2025
As Kenya's national drama festival draws near, students are set to address critical societal issues through drama, dance, music, and film. These performances will highlight concerns such as alcohol abuse, nepotism, corruption, and moral decay.
Riara Springs Girls’ High School will represent Nairobi with The Bottle Trap, a powerful play that explores the devastating impact of alcohol addiction on young lives. Written and directed by Justine Ong’wen, the play stresses that education is not just a route to employment but a tool for empowerment and self-realization.
Having won the Nairobi Region Drama Festival for three consecutive years, Riara Springs earned the honor of representing the region at the national festival in Nakuru starting April 4.
Jane Mulinge, the producer, emphasised that The Bottle Trap highlights how addiction can derail dreams and ambitions. The play has already garnered numerous accolades, including trophies for Best Overall Play, Best Costume & Décor, Best Producer, Best Actress (Sandra Aikaeli), and Best Director.
“Education is not just a tool for employment, it is a tool for life. It nurtures the critical thinking needed to overcome challenges,” Ong’wen said, reflecting on the play’s message.
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With the theme “Enhancing the Creative Economy through Artistic Expression for Sustainable Development,” the festival underscores the power of the arts to shape narratives around social justice, innovation, and resilience.
Other top performances in the Nairobi region include St. George’s Girls’ Broken Chords and State House Girls’ Riwaya Kisulisuli, signaling strong competition at the national level.
Buru Buru Girls’ Yao Neh Yo! (It Has Been Opened) tackles gender-based employment discrimination, following a qualified female civil engineer who, after being denied work in a male-dominated industry, creates an innovative brick-making machine to change her fate. Choreographed by P. Ngere and J. Etale, the performance champions self-sustainability and resilience.
The dance also highlights how creativity can overcome adversity.
“Her daughter’s ingenuity leads them to develop a brick-making machine, showing how innovation can change their circumstances,” said Stella Wambua, the producer.
Highway Secondary School’s Jangoma won the Cultural Creative Dance category, exploring digital-age employment opportunities and reinforcing the theme of self-reliance.
Ofafa Jericho High School’s Echoes of the Canvas follows the story of Jabali, a young artist falsely accused of art theft. Through a gripping disciplinary hearing, Jabali fights for justice, proving that passion and hard work—not privilege—define success. Directed by Anthony Thuo, the play will compete at the national festival alongside other winning entries.
Kayole South Secondary School’s podcast The Silent Screams gives a voice to survivors of sexual abuse and drug addiction. “We aim to give a voice to the voiceless,” said director Nicholas Adongo.
The festival, scheduled for Nakuru County from April 7th to 18th, 2025, will bring together regional winners whose performances address pressing issues such as addiction, unemployment, gender equality, and youth empowerment.
Other regions have also produced standout performances.
Western Region’s The Ladder, by Friends School Kamusinga, explores the emotional struggles of teenagers with absent parents.
In the Cultural Creative Dance category, Bungoma High claimed the top spot, while Tigoi Girls and St. Claire’s Maragoli Girls secured second and third positions.
The Nyanza Region competitions at Orero Boys in Homabay County highlighted resilience and leadership, while the Central Region will showcase Karima Girls’ winning play, alongside narratives from Kianyaga High and Alliance Girls.
Nairobi Region festival chairman Vincent Akuka emphasized that this year’s performances are more than just entertainment. “The stories told through drama, dance, and music will shape conversations around social issues and inspire positive change,” he said.
A notable controversy emerged when Echoes of War, a play written by former Kakamega senator Cleophas Malalah, was removed from the Western Region winners’ gala. The play tackles modern issues such as technology, governance, and social justice, reflecting Generation Z’s struggles.
Set in the fictional Royal Velvet Emirates, the play imagines a nation recovering from civil war, with young citizens driving efforts to rebuild their society.
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