SPEECH BY THE KABARAK UNIVERSITY VICE CHANCELLOR, REV. PROF. JONES KALELI DURING THE DURING THE SECOND KABARAK UNIVERSITY AND KAMAE CONFERENCE AND FESTIVAL ON OCTOBER, 2013

Abstract

Good morning First I welcome you to Kabarak University for this week’s music conference feel at home in our midst. Kabarak University has a reach history of music. This institution was founded by H. E Daniel Arap Moi, the Second President of the Republic of Kenya who indeed has a lot of interest in music. It may interest you to know that every day, a lot of music is performed in the Kabarak institutions. The Kabarak chapel has hosted many musicians and concerts. Such musicians and choirs include Kenyans, Tanzanians, Ugandans, Europeans and Americans. The first music conference was held here in the year 2010. I am happy to report that during that time three main books were launched by H.E Daniel Toroitich Arap Moi. I am also informed that research and publication of these books were sponsored wholly by the Second president. At the same time a host of music scholars and researchers in various areas of church music were also involved. This conference aims at discussing research findings in various areas of church music and music education. These findings have a lot of policy implications in the area of curriculum development in Kenya and Africa at large. It is important to note that the current constitutional dispensation guarantees freedom of worship while at the same time makes demand that Kenyan children must access free education. This implies that this conference papers can be used by the government to improve educational practices and music performance throughout the country. Kabarak University is in the process of starting a school of music that shall teach and conduct research in various areas of musicology, music education and performance. It is because of this that I would like to welcome you all to Kabarak University and in a way urge you to participate and assist us to establish a school of music founded on biblical Christian Values. Music education and performance has been delivered in Kenya before and after independence. This shows the significance attached by government and private citizens to music. Elsewhere it has been found out that those who play piano and sing often tend to have superior cognitive skills related scientific and mathematical tasks. Music is used for therapeutical purposes in hospitals. Performance of music is also a worthwhile economic activity which many artists have used to earn a living. Music is used as a means of cultural adaptation and transmission. Music is used in spreading the word of God the world over besides being a means of creating national cohesion and patriotism. Music industry is currently a major foreign exchange earner in our country. For all these reasons, it is regrettable that music has been removed from among subjects being examined at the primary school level. I would like to urge you scholars to partner with Kabarak University and mount revival campaign for music performance and reconsideration of education policies which are friendly to music. In conclusion, I would like to urge music organizations like UNESCO to increase their funding of music education and related activities. The government must also support research in music and provision of scholarships to music students. Kabarak University and KAMAE would like to impress upon the world that music education and performance should be prioritized in national budget so that talent development can be achieved in Kenya. So ladies and gentlemen, mine is to wish you God’s blessing as you go through the conference. May ideas about musicology be generated for the blessing of all people and the advancement of God’s Kingdom. Thank you and blessings to you all.