Time and Chance: Running the Music Program in Kibera Schools

I have taken students to the Kenyan National Music Festivals before, but the 2022 music festival held in Kisumu at Arya Primary school was special. It was a magical moment for the students, the schools, and for me. This was the first time the Center of Hope (COH) school was participating in the National festivals and the students were so thrilled to feature in a major competition as it was a new experience they had not gone through before.

I have taken students to the Kenyan National Music Festivals before, but the 2022 music festival held in Kisumu at Arya Primary school was special. It was a magical moment for the students, the schools, and for me. This was the first time the Center of Hope (COH) school was participating in the National festivals and the students were so thrilled to feature in a major competition as it was a new experience they had not gone through before.

​However, For Garden of Hope (Mobjap), they've been to the festivals on several occasions. The last time they were in the competitions, they managed to proceed to the Nationals and came out second best in the country.

This year all our three schools (Fafu, Mobjap, and Center of Hope) participated in the same competition. Starting from the Kibera sub-county.

It was time for COH as they managed to stand out above the rest in the first and second competitions, at the sub-county and the regional levels.

Having become the best in Nairobi after competing in the sub-county and Regionals in the recorder category class 915H Recorder ensemble, COH qualified to represent Nairobi in the 2022 National Music competitions. Unfortunately, we didn't manage position one in the Nationals but achieved a big honor for the school, becoming second in the country with 88% of the total marks, falling short of 1% to match the number one school that was awarded 89%. 

I am grateful to God for the opportunity to bring an impact into the lives of these children. This opportunity to teach in the two schools means so much to me. I never knew I would be a teacher one day. What came to my attention as I grew up was that I needed to be part of the change we needed in the community that raised me. I grew up in Kibera and certainly went through the horror of the 2007 post-election violence that showed me the real face of tribalism that thrives deep within the communities in most parts of Kenya. I was a victim in so many ways because of the color of my skin and my last name. As a young boy in form two, I couldn't understand much about what was going on. 

I have also witnessed young students getting lost in drugs because of poverty that is prevalent in the community. The environment that blinds greatness.

I have seen great talented children not living to explore their talents to their utmost potential because of so many limitations that linger in every household in Kibera: lack of good role models and being surrounded by vulnerability everywhere.

I have loved music from a very young age and have participated in playing football as well, but I experienced the very same limitations and dangers that chase every young talented child from Kibera into the corners of depression and grief. Corners of hopelessness and inability to see hope. I also was affected and couldn't achieve much. I lost faith and abandoned my course at some point. It was too much to bear.

Regardless of the challenges I went through, the music in me kept building up rhythms within and I couldn't help but step up. I was in the school band in high school and participated in my church choir, singing tenor and playing the trombone and the recorder. I pushed myself to be in the music environment despite not being allowed to study music as a subject in high school. 

Music gave me hope and another chance to reach out to these young boys and girls. Now I not only teach my students to play but I also speak to them about the importance of hope, peace, unity, sports, and how to use their abilities to avoid unnecessary things within the slum.

My highlight this year was seeing the kids from our three schools perform at their best. They've made us proud and I believe they are the best in the country in Recorder.  

I live as a testimony to these kids that consistency builds the dream and that we can take the environment we first find to be a starting point rather than a limitation. My parting advice is that time and chance happen to everyone and regardless of the difficulties, we persevere. 

I am grateful to S’cool sounds through Nina Stern, Crossing Thresholds, and City for the opportunity to give back and to grow as a teacher and as a person.  

CT Teacher Julius Odhiambo,  AKA: Coach Julio