“We see it but we don’t understand it. We understand it but we don’t own it.”
“Poetry is a teacher, an emotional healer, an activist, an intelligent mirror, an appraiser, a pleasure and a treasure in times of joy.”
St. Thereza Namagunga Primary School presented these unforgettable quotes during the #Babishai2016 Poetry Festival in August. The young brilliant minds redefined African poetry, set the stage for a tremendous performance.
Competing against Hope Senior School Watoto, the two schools put their best feet forward with incredible talent. Hope Senior School Watoto amused the audience when they began with a play where when a teacher asked them about a folk song, the best they could do was a song from the 90s.
Hope Senior School Watoto students
The younger girls of Namagunga stole the day when they performed Okot p Bitek’s poetry, significant for the 50th anniversary of the first publication of Song of Lawino.
Towards the close, there was a panel discussion led by the children. Acaye Pamela reminded us how words evoke emotion and truth and when it came to award-giving, Mama Tendo, proprietor of the Mama Tendo Foundation, gave out the prizes and cerificates, appreciating Babishai for the excellent work in promoting creative literature amongst children.
Mama Tendo reading a poem