29th Annual Interschools verse speaking competition

We have done it again! Oshwal Academy Nairobi has stamped its authority in verse speaking. First it was the Rhino Cup debate. Now it is the Inter schools verse speaking competition. For the 29 years that the programme has been running, this is the first time we have won. We started participating in 2008, picking individual accolades here and there. This time round we fielded a full team- of 5 speakers- who faced stiff challenge from 9 schools! OAN emerged victorious ahead of consecutive three time winners, Brookhouse, and hosts Nairobi Academy who came third. Other schools in attendance were Nairobi International School, St. Andrews Turi, Braeburn Kisumu, Braeburn Imani, Hillcrest School, and Premier Academy.

The schools verse speaking competition has been running for the last 29 years. To win the trophy, a school must present entries for five categories as follows:

Senior talent: own composition

Junior talent: own composition

Under 14, Under 16 and Under 18: reciting set poems

To win, the competitor must interpret the poem in their own unique style bringing out the emotions of the poem through voice. This is not a drama contest so winners are those who manipulate voice to maximum effect.

Our students did just that. And they won!

The judging panel of two distinguished long serving teachers of English at Peponi School noted the exceptional skill in Jaynita Bharat of year 12. Jaynita presented an own composition titled War at Heart, a touching poem about how war separates the best of lovers. The poem's appeal lay in its ability to capture the audience's inner thoughts about war and love. After her presentation, the theatre was momentarily quiet, stung by the poem's words before a thunderous applause. It was no surprise when she won top prize!

Reciting Magemesu Namungalu's The Town Beauty was year 7's Najma Mogul who through her piercing voice managed to convey deep sadness about the murder of a beautiful girl, the daughter of a chief. Najma scooped third position out of 9.

Jaaziyah Shiraz Satar flew our U16 talent banner with her own piece Hallelujah. Capturing the war theme too, hers was a mixture of societal destruction and family disintegration.

On stage with Kaneko Mitsuharu's Opposition was Sharmee Mukesh Shah of year 10. Perhaps the most intriguing poem of all, the poet's message was that of defiance and Sharmee brought it all out. We hope Sharmee will not live those words 'In my youth I was opposed to school' or riding a horse facing backwards! Sharmee came second.

The toughest category was the U18 category. Fleur Adcock's The Telephone Call was Rutvi's burden. It entailed a manipulation of voice to demonstrate three voices: two telephone callers and a narrator! Quick thinking told her to adopt an Italian accent (which Mrs Kamau kept referring to as Russian!) for the lottery company and her own voice for the receiver. Bingo! It worked! Rutvi got second prize. She says she has to beat Hillcrest's Nikita Bell in 2012. We are with you Rutvi!

Calculated on cumulative points, OAN emerged top in the whole competition! You should have seen the OAN team led by Messrs Makanda P, Makanda D, and Salome Kamau when Mrs Rebeiro, Head of Nairobi Academy sounded our school as the winners! Jaynita and Najma's voices rung through the hall with excitement! She hailed our performance and remembered that we now have two prestigious trophies. In attendance was Brookhouse School director, J O'Connor.

The team is indebted to Messrs Diana Meruh, Sally Kamau, Vincent Manyura, P. Makanda and D. Makanda for the countless sacrifices of lunch to prepare our students. We are also thankful to year 10 literature class who offered valued criticism to the competitors. We cannot forget the important role played by the students who did not make the final list but were with us till the end. Shrena, Maheyer, Raisah,Vishnupriya, Naureen and Trisha, we owe you. Most importantly we wish to thank Raisah, a year 7 participant who did not make the final group but was instrumental in correcting even the senior students when she thought their presentation needed amending. Thank  you Raisah.

We thank Mr Riika the head of English for the final rehearsal judging and Mrs. Saxena, the deputy head for sparing time to listen to our final submissions. Thank you all. Let us keep the banner of Oshwal Academy flying higher and higher!