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By James
Wakahiu
Mount
Kenya University (MKU) has partnered with one of Kenya’s most popular comedians,
Daniel Ndambuki alias Churchill, in a move aimed at supporting art and growing
talent in its campuses.
MKU
Institute of Performing and Creative Arts has partnered with Churchill to form
the MKU-Churchill Institute of Performing and Creative Arts, the university
says in a statement. “Churchill has been instrumental in supporting art and
students from our campuses have been given opportunities by the comedian on his
stand up TV show – Churchill Show,” said MKU.
The
university added that young people deserve opportunities that will build their
careers and teaming up with Churchill was a step in the right direction. “MKU is nationally known as a wellspring
of youth talent, having won the Kenya National Drama Festival title in 2015 and
impressive performances in all consecutive years. Our students have in the past
auditioned and appeared in the Churchill Show,” the statement read.
MKU-Churchill
Institute of Performing and Creative Arts is modelled on the Oxford University
Dramatic Society that was started by Alec MacKinnon in 1885 and has birthed
many famous actors around the world.
Churchill,
as is with the case of many other local thespians, started at the famous Kenya
National Theatre. “We realised that so many youths have untapped talents in
performance and creative arts. We aim to reactivate and rejuvenate their
talents through this Churchill Institute of Performing Art,” the
institution noted.
MKU said
during the pandemic, many people suffered from mental health-related challenges
brought about by job losses and tough economic times, triggering the university
to create avenues that promote arts and can be used as sources of revenue
during unprecedented times.
Through
Churchill Institute of Performing Arts, MKU is strategizing to boost the
production of entertainment. Plans are underway to nurture talent-based education
whereby scholarships will be issued to those who exhibit potential for
excellence. The scholarships will be similar to the sports scholarships offered
by universities in the US.
The deal
comes in the backdrop of a new beginning for Churchill Show which moved to TV47
after years of airing on NTV. The Churchill Show will be video-taped at MKU
beginning in this month. The show will
later be unveiled in the grand launch that will take place at MKU with various
artists set to stage performances.
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