Last week saw the end of regional drama festivals of 2016. In Machakos county, the regional competitions were held at Mavoko secondary school in Athi river.
Kenya schools and colleges/universities drama festivals should prioritise emerging issues as the main theme. In the years from 2000-2006, the main theme during drama festivals was HIV/AIDS because it was so prevalent those years.
Campaigns and awareness were majorly about the disease. Drama those days majorly addressed such issues like Voluntary counselling and testing, unfaithfulness, many sexual partners, etc.
During the years 2007-2012, the centre theme during our drama festivals was war, tribalism and hate speech.
This was an emerging issue by then following the 2007/8 post-election violence and politics of tribal affiliations.
During this year's festivals, we should use drama to address such emerging issues like corruption, Sugardaddys or 'sponsors', cheating in examinations, terrorism and cancer.