By Ogova Ondego
Published August 30, 2010

The annual Lake Victoria Festival of the Arts (LAFESTA) is scheduled for September 30 – October 3, 2010 at various venues in Kisumu, western Kenya.

Albert Wandago, the director of the festival, says LAFESTA’s role is to “promote cultural values of Western Kenya, provide opportunities for the youth to exhibit their artistic talents, and organize artists to use their talents for advocacy in governance, health, peace and development, and creating job opportunities for the youth.”

LAFESTA 2010 shall, among other activities and programmes, feature daily local film screenings at Sunspot Club (11.00 am-4.30 pm), a film production symposium at Le Savannah Hotel, Rap music and dance performances at Jomo Kenyatta Grounds, Drama and dance performances at Aga Khan Hall, a Boda Boda Bicycle Taxi Race, a seminar on the newly-adopted Constitution of Kenya at Aga Khan Hall, a Miss Lafesta Nite Fashion Show at Kisumu Hotel, an Environment clean-up by all artists and Kisumu youth, a Boat race at Dunga Beach, and a Gospel music performance at Jomo Kenyatta Grounds.

Expected at the four-day event will be performing groups from Performing Artists and Groups in Kenya are expected from Southern Sudan, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi who will perform alongside their Kenyan counterparts drawn from Kisumu, Siaya, Kisii, Homa Bay, Kuria, Kakamega, Kericho, Eldoret, and Nairobi.

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LAFESTA is calling upon interested artists from the eastern Africa region to register for the event.

“They may register at our office or by calling us on 0726 513 091, 0722 711 598 or 0726 001 143,” Wandago says.

Saying “LAFESTA welcomes any kind of presentations that artists may wish to present,” Wandago adds that “Due to the huge number of artists who now wish to perform we insist on vetting all items and confirming that they are sound for performance. This is also being done to weed out items that we think may not be professionally ready for presenting to the ever growing critical audience.”

LAFESTA 2010 has two kinds of performances. One is general, allowing the performer to engage or exploit any thematic areas while the second one is competitive on the theme, The New Constitution.

Of the second category, Wandago explains, “The scripts or presentations should therefore: 1. Address issues in the New Constitution by clarifying certain aspects and/or dispelling falsehoods that were spread during the referendum campaigns, 2. Reveal advantages contained in the New Constitution, 3. Explain implementation of the New Constitution, and   Use less than ten artists for performance.”

Director Wandago says “Six of the best drama/skit performances in this competitive category shall be rewarded at the tune of KSh40,000 each and will be sponsored for a performance in their home areas after the festival.”

Wandago adds that “The Best Three Rap and Dance performances will also receive financial rewards to be determined.”

All performances, Wandago stresses, will be allowed a maximum of 30 minutes on stage.

Dr PLO Lumumba, director of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission, is set to preside over the official opening of the festival at a Kisumu hotel on September 29, 2010 at 6.00 pm. That evening, a Nyatiti music video and a fashion show will be held while music will be provided by Maseno University Band.