Friday 29 March 2019

UNLOCK THE SERVERS


OPEN THE SERVERS
So you may know I was a thespian before I became an actress. Kicking off with a quote from J.D Salinger, “Among other things, you will find that you’re not the first one to be confused and frightened and even sickened by human behavior.”  When I joined theatre I joined it with love I dedicated all my passion I took it like my baby and so of course you would not just expect me to throw it in a drain or flush it in the toilet. The power of mega t­alents put together amazed me, which pumped in the hunger of growth in me that propelled me to who I am today. Today, I can proudly confess my growth in theatre, professional thespian.

Backstage Drama. WINNING PLAY.
The heartfelt emotion, the humor, the love, the unity, the drama and the reality staged in Backstage Drama by Light Theatre Production from Africa Nazarene University was just on another level. A story well scripted and served justice by the entrusted cast. A story that brings out the challenges that we as the youth go through day to day. Some we can blame it on no one but us and some on the established laws, just like in the competitions. Has it ever occurred to you that it is not about justice anymore, that the traditions of the land were made laws and it has nothing to do with being fair? Has it? Apparently, in this case it has, there’s an express key to the servers. Then comes claim of balance and moderation which I will not oppose either, but when this  moderation comes in what happens to those who worked so hard, those who sacrificed their lifetime for a certain period just to come and stage the best? What happens to that weak soul that depends on drama? What happens to that heart, body and soul that depends on drama as survival? A heart that has drama as a priority and not choice? What happens? Should we keep killing them in the name of balancing? Does it even seem right? The gala list of performances started to raise my suspicions. We started dying before the snow, and like the snow, we continued to fall. A convincing reason crossed my mind, maybe it is because we were scheduled to leave early. Shockingly, this not only caught our eyes but also of those who were looking forward to re-watching our items at the gala with an aim of learning a thing or two. Interestingly, the audience was full of university students who would definitely give unbiased credit where it deserved. 
Anyway, let me go direct to the point. Introduction of KUPAA in the year 2018 brought so much hope to university students of drama. Hope that at last students would express their un-highlighted talentsfor instance through introduction of the spoken word category, parody, mashup etc. LTP has walked the KUPAA way all through since initiation for KUPAA showed more life from instigation and was the only shed of hope remaining. KUPAA started small but in just a year has grown bigger by attracting more universities from all over the nation. There could be some in-house issues but the biggest obstacle or rather showstopper in this course is justice in adjudication. That’s the reason I am here. I believe it should not get to a point of involving the DCI in cubing the looming trends on that adjudication table but if we must then why not. The answer to all these concerns lies in the hands of these individuals.
1. Mueni Lundi - Natioanl Adjudicator KUPAA 2018/2019
Mueni is a performing artist who believes that performance is a way of making meaning to the world, a birthright to every human being. She has been engaged in the practice of theatre in its various aspects for over four decades. She was unquestionably in the national’s bench for both 2018 and 2019 KUPAA festivals. 



Manipulated Modern Dance Results KUPAA2018
It’s during the 2018 scandal where the image bellow surfaced. Enough evidence that the final results are determined by the weight and visibility of that biro pen ink. In 2018, our modern dance THEBONDAGE (64%) was denied the winning dance award and given to NEWDAWN (55%) from our competitors. Marks were written in pencil so it was easy for the adjudicators to manipulate by erasing just as shown above which ended up awarding our competitors 20/21 marks. Surprisinglyas if nothing had happened, Mueni Lundi still was on the bench in KUPAA2019.

2. Marion Bosire - National Adjudicator KUPAA 2019
Marion has a Master’s Degree in Education from Kenyatta University and a post-graduate diploma in Film Studies. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Film at Kenyatta University. Marion has immense experience in training in Theatre Arts, Film, Translation, Kiswahili Language and Literature.
3. Victor Ber - National Adjudicator KUPAA 2019   
Victor Ber is a multi-talented performing artist and theatre manager. He has been a creative Director at Heartstrings Kenya From 1998-2010. He is also the creative Director of Laugh Industry Kenya (Producers of Churchill Show) from 2010 to Date.

Now, the three individuals highlighted above are answerable to all the complainers concerns irrespective of whether they succumbed to external third party pressures or took bribe to declare the results. I mentioned third party influencers considering the fact that KUPAA has been in the verge of convincing more universities to join in from KNDF. That has led to rules being changed even in the course of the festival where we witnessed very boring items (sorry to say for the lack of a better word) being picked to entertain during the nationals gala just because they wanted to win the hearts of new institutions. Very disheartening and devastating that items can now be picked from indulgence and not merit.
Anyway nothing is always right as it seems.
Maybe it is not about the balancing anymore all that is nothing but an excuse. Come to think of it, there is an institution that carried almost five wins, is that balancing? Now I get it, the servers needed refreshments, they needed cold water to quench their thirst since the weather was too hot and temperatures in the room kept rising anytime LTP got to the stage. But could they quench the thirsty servers with their electrifying performances, oh travesty, did they?
Unfortunately, No they did not provide the facilitation fee to the servers thus did not quench the servers’ thirst. But for how long?  For how long will this go on? For how long will we quench the servers?  For how long? If you ask me, I do not know, it is absurd that the laws do not serve justice. I rise for theatre justice.
Will there ever be a resolution for this issue? Will we always complain year in year out? Wait, maybe we need external auditors. Or maybe, another independent third eye to sit in the midst of the audience from day one to the last day. Or maybe, we just bring in the DCI. Or even restage the complaints item versus the one that pleased the adjudicator. Or perhaps VAR, to record and compare the items at the end of the festival to justify the alleged wins and complains. Just thinking out loud.
I end this by uplauding all university students who were not biased in giving credit where it deserved. Our competitors were convinced and bowed to the fact that our items were good just the same way we did to other institutions. A good example being the MMU modern dance. This year you outdid us. Thank you JOOUST, AIU, MMU , PWANI, TUK , MMUST ,MASENO and many more for acknowledging that BACKSTAGE DRAMA – ANU play, deserved better than not being ranked. We would have wished to fulfill your desires by staging the item again for you to learn but again the decisions made by the bench did not favor us. Thank you once again for your kind words.
#FUNGUASERVERS
#KUPAA2019
#LTP
#JUSTICEOVERLAWS
#AFRICANAZARENEUNIVERSITY
#UNSTOPPABLEWAVE


Wednesday 7 November 2018

WE TRIUMPHED - KNDF 2018

The journey has been tough. The fight for what is rightfully ours has been our major motivation even with lots of challenges that came our way in the process. We anticipated them any way. This year records the highest degree of  growth and self dedication. Rising from nothing to reliable members of the team was the greatest achievement recorded with a huge number of first timers showing their worth.
Jesleen, a first year student who stared in our 2018 play entitled "THE HEIRESS" as Delilah, against all odds rose from totally raw talent to a professional in just a span of 3 months. She among very many others are a prove that passion, dedication ,handwork and discipline is the perfect recipe for growth. Her willingness to learn and a great spirit of competition stirred her great and unbelievable growth. She not only sustained the play but also was one of the major characters in the modern dance "THE BONDAGE" and the choral verse "KIAMBAZA".  
One other character who surprised many is Christine, a first year student who featured as Samantha in the play. She unbelievably and indisputably  owned the character Samantha (a character she had rejected at first) to become one of the best actresses we had this year. Her potential if fully explored can be one force to be reckoned with in this industry for she is a promising character to watch.   


Its never too late to post this. The BEST team in years. No need to explain more. They did it by themselves. I am a proud associate.
RESULTS
***Play - “The Heiress”***

2nd Runners Up Best Costume And Décor
2nd Runners Up Winning Play 
Dr. Stanley Bhebhe- 2nd Runners Up Best Play Producer
Mr Prosperous Pithon– Runners Up Best Scripted Play In English 
Mr Peter Mochache Ongaga & Martin Steven Odongo–2nd Runners Up Best Director 
Mcee Philo Pierre - 2nd Runners Up Best Actor 
Sheila Nkonge - Most Promising Actress

***Modern Dance – “The Bondage”***
Gassizo Kenya –Runners Up Best Choreographer
Runners Up Winning Modern Dance
Runners Up Best Costume And Décor

***Comedy - “Old Age Vs New Age”***
Performer- Ebuka Henry
Winning Comedy 
Best Presented Comedy 
Most Creative Comedy 
Best Costumes And Props
Best Comedian 
Adjudicators Award

***Mime – “The Swindler”*** 
2nd Runners Up Winning Mime 
2nd Runners Up Best Mime Performer 
2nd Runners Up Body And Costumes Make Up

***Solo Verse – “I Am Tired”***
Performer: @Sheila Nkonge 
Best Item On Peace And Integration 
@Sheila Nkonge - 2nd Runners Up Best Solovers Performer 
2nd Runners Up Best Costume And Decor 
2nd Runners Up Best Solo Verse Presentation 
2nd Runner Up Best Scripted Solo Verse

BIRTHDAY SOOT - PLAY