The 2021 Kenya Music Festivals (KMF) might be conducted both physically and virtually to prevent transmission of Coronavirus in schools. This means schools might be forced to record learners’ presentations and send them for review by adjudicators.
Though the government has already come up with Covid-19 guidelines to be followed during the festivals that usually attract over 100,000 participants from across the country, there could be a surge in infections due to lack of adequate infrastructure to allow social distancing.
The outbreak of Coronavirus prompted suspension of this year’s Music Festivals that are usually conducted from May to August, paving way for the drafting of a syllabus offering guidelines to be followed by participants and on how pre-trainings should be conducted.
To attract more participants next year, KMF Chair Peter Wanjohi said music trainers had been asked to give more attention to talented learners with special needs and be creative in offering opportunities for as many talents as possible.
Mr Wanjohi said that last year’s festivals at Kabarak attracted 131, 000 participants with over 7200 trainers turning up for the event.
The Ministry of Education is undertaking regional training workshops for Northern, Eastern, Western and Coastal regions targeting 600 trainers across the country up from 300 last year.
Alupe University College don Peter Barasa, says there is a possibility of conducting virtual festivals where the presentations will be recorded locally but adjudicated by judges through zoom technology.
The don, who is a Professor of Linguistics, is the college’s Deputy Principal and in charge of Covid-19 protocols for Kenya Music Festivals.
