Radio Issues in Kenya

Description:
Listening to the radio in Kenya has become less popular due to segmentation. The radio now consist of stations that just play one specific genre of music and appeal to a certain audience, which is causing the radio stations to lose money. Kenyans want the radio station to return to how it was approximately ten years ago because it played a wider range of music. In the morning, a station would play music geared towards adults that are getting ready for their day and on their way to work. In the afternoon is when teens and kids would be listening, which is when hip-hop would be played. At night love songs would be played to help create a sentimental atmosphere. This is how listeners loved their radio. They also loved when the radio was more ineractive. It seems as if the radio in Kenya has become less interactive to the audience, and that is what is causing listeners to change the station constantly.
Evaluation:
It seems as if Kenyans are not happy with where the radio stations have gone in recent years. According to the article, the radio statins began to try to appeal and capture one specific audience. Kenya wants the radio to change back to what it used to be because people enjoyed listening to the radio how it was ten years ago.
Citation:

Mwaniki, Philip. "Kenya: Time to Rethink Kenyan Radio." AllAfrica.com. 3 Dec. 2011. Web. 11 Dec. 2011.

Kenya Music Festival

Description:
Throughout the 1970's, right after Kenya gained independence from Britain, the main goal of education in Kenya was to promote nationalism. In musical eduaction, the teaching of instruments and songs that are indegenous to Kenya, as well as the history of music and dance in the Kenya, was a big part of the teaching curriculum. However, the prominence of a strong music and dance cultural aspect was not being emphasized by the nation starting in the 90's. With musical influence coming to Africa all around the globe, new dance and music became relevent in Kenya. Starting in 1993, the Kenya Music Festival was created. The festival is for students in school and colleges within the country to join a competition-like festival. The festival is designed to showcase the country's best performers, as well as teach them along the way. The purpose of the event is to encourage the study, practice, and development of music and dance, and preseve and promote the nation's culture. The festival includes many categories. Some of the categories are devoted towards the existing cultural aspects in Kenya, and others are for students of music that are studying the recent influences of other countries. For example, Kenya has seen  various French, Indian, and Western influences. For each influence, the Kenya Music Festival selected tutors from such influences to further teach the aspiring musicians.
Evaluation:
This article shows that although cultural music and dance is a big deal to a country like Kenya, the nation is still open to showcasing new talent that is not indegenous to the country. The main goal is to keep the vast music and dance culture relevent in Kenya and to keep developing it.
Citation:

Opondo, Patricia A. "Cultural Policies In Kenya." Arts Education Policy Review 101.5 (2000): 18. Education Research Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2011.

Problems Facing Early Childhood Education in Kenya

Description:
Like many countries in Africa, Kenya has a high poverty rate. It is estimated that over 50% of the population in Kenya is living under the poverty line. That statistic, combined with the fact that over 50% of the population consists of people 18 years old or younger and that secondary schools are unaffordable for many families, poses a big problem for the future. Since half of the country can't afford to expand their education after the first eight years of learning, poverty will continue to be a problem. The problems don't stop at not attending school, but there are also many problems with the current early childhood education system. Since there are so many different cultures in Kenya, it makes teaching cultural values to children in Kenya that much harder. This poses a big problem with music eduaction because children won't be learning about their culture and the music and dance that is involved with it.
Evaluation:
This article explains all of the problems with the current early childhood education curriculum that is currently being revised in Kenya. Poverty and multiculturalism together are limiting the future for many young Kenyans. Hopefully a new curriculum is soon developed for the sake of the children and the future of Kenya.
Citation:

Andang'o, Elizabeth, and John Mugo. "Early Childhood Music Education In Kenya: Between Broad National Policies And Local Realities." Arts Education Policy Review 109.2 (2007): 43-52. Education Research Complete. Web. 7 Dec. 2011.

Cultural Music in Kenya

Description:
Like mostly every country, Kenya has a unique culture. The Kenyan culture revolves around music, and it always has, even since before Kenya became an actual nation. Cultural songs in Kenya all serve a purpose and are only performed or heard on a certain occasion. Different communities will use different songs for different occasions, as well as different instruments that are relative to the country. Every age group has their own songs. There are songs made for little children and as they get older, so do the songs. There are also songs that are labeled to certain events, such as the birth of a child, a drought or famine, marriage, harvesting food, and virtually anything. Curtural songs also include songs that involve engaging in some type of activity, such as a playing a game, or more popularly, dancing.
Evaluation:
This article offered a little background information on the cultural music in Kenya. It described how they have songs for every age and occasion and how they are integrated into their every day life. Cultural music has lost its relevance in a lot of African countries and it is a goal of Kenya's to bring back their cultural traditions.
Citation:

Andang'o, Elizabeth A. "Synchronising Pedagogy and Musical Experiences in Early Childhood: Addressing Challenges in Preschool Music Education in Kenya." EBSCOhost. Taylor & Francis, Aug. 2009. Web. 7 Dec. 2011

 

 

On the Search for New Sounds in Africa

Description:
With the music industry always expanding, due to increasing popularity from technology and the various ways we discover it now, people are always trying to find the next best sound. OkayPlayer, an online hip-hop community that promotes music with African roots, such as The Roots and Erykah Badu, also formed a branch site to promote the same music in Africa. OkayAfrica promotes the same type of raggae-hip-hop music in Africa today, which is helping African musicians make a name for themselves. Africa Unsigned is a start-up music label that is also attempting to promote new African talents on the rise. They have donated over $500,000 to promoting new African music. One of the bands that are promoted by Africa Unsigned are a Kenyan acoustic vocal group name Sauti Sol. Sauti Sol has since released two albums and now tours around Africa as well as Europe.
Evaluation:
This article showed that there are many collective efforts to promoting music in Africa, as well as great strides to end the problems facing the whole continents music industry. Not only do the organizations want to promote Africans to become stars in the music industry, but they want to give hope to the continent and prove to people that you don't have to leave the country in order to be successful.
Citation:

"Searching for a New Sound; Music in Africa." The Economist Online. 4 Nov. 2011. ProQuest. 5 Dec. 2011.

Starsearch in Kenya

Description:
Starsearch, paired with a charity organization called Action for Music, has challenged Kenyan musicians to assemble and audition for the nationwide talent show in an effort to breathe new life into the music inustry. The country faces a lot of problems in the music industry, such as piracy and the rising popularity of Western music. Action for Music wants Kenya to listen to all of the countries great talent and find a new interest in local music. Rap and R&B has influenced the country musically and the charity wants to hear kenya go back to its roots of culture and dance.
Evaluation:
This article explains the purpose of Starsearch and Action for Music. The charity's goal is to bring back real Kenyan music and fight problems facing the music industry. The article is for people to become aware of the problems in the industry and to do something about it.
Citation:

Delap, Naomi. "Eyes on the Prize." Afropop Worldwide. Web. 4 Dec. 2011.

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Benga

Description:
Benga music is one of the more popular genres of music in Kenya and most of East Africa. Before becoming a modern style of music, an African instrument called a nyatiti was used. The nyatiti has since been replaced by the electric bass. Other instruments that are associated with benga music are guitars and some sort of percussion, or drums. It is a popular style of music in Kenya because it is native to the country. Benga is usually upbeat music that you can dance to with unique, funky guitar riffs.
Evaluation:
This article offers a little information on benga music and some popular names related to the genre. Also located on this site is a brief description of other types of popular Kenyan music.

Citation:

"Introduction to Kenya Music." Kenya Advisor – The Independent Kenya Travel Guide. Web. 04 Dec. 2011.

click here to view website