Chibavi CDSS through to the finals of ATEM drama competition
For the first time in the history of Chibavi Community Day Secondary School, the school’s drama club will be among those competing at the finals of ATEM Drama Competition in Lilongwe, following the club’s excellent performance at the divisional finals which put them on third position in the Northern Education Division (NED).
The competition is held annually and is organized by the Association of Teachers of English in Malawi (ATEM).
At the divisional finals recently held at Zolozolo Secondary School Hall, Katoto Secondary School emerged winners with their play “Hot Handcuffs” and Luwinga Secondary School came second with their play “Who is behind the curtain?”
The play by Chibavi CDSS is entitled “The Public Secret”. The playwright, producer and director of this piece, is a member of the Languages Department at the school, Michael Emmanuel Kunyenje. Kunyenje has been at Chibavi CDSS for only two years and his impact in the Languages Department cannot go unnoticed.
The play is about the challenges that people with albinism face. A man with albinism is brutally killed by some thugs who are sent by a prominent member of the society. The killers find themselves in prison but the big fish that sent them goes scot free.
The daughter of the deceased, through thick and thin, gets educated and becomes a doctor at a public hospital. After their release, the thugs learn that the man who used them is very ill in hospital. They remember that he never paid them and decide to see him at the hospital where the deceased’s daughter learn that her patient is the one who orchestrated the death of her father.
Speaking to Nyasa Times after making it to the finals, Kunyenje said he was very excited to have made it to the national finals.
“This is History not only for this school but also for the entire Northern Education Division. My experience with ATEM tells me that for the past 16 years or so, no CDSS from the north has gone this far,” explained Kunyenje.
He added that the major challenge during preparations was that Chibavi CDSS has no hall and some of the actors never knew what a stage in drama was.
“I was however inspired by the potential that I saw in the students and with the support of other members of the teaching staff, we finally made it,” concluded Kunyenje.
Meanwhile, there are fears on whether the club will manage to travel to Liongwe to take part in the finals scheduled for 3rd June, 2017 at Likuni Boys Secondary School. The club is lacking funds for transportation.
Headteacher for Chibavi CDSS, Osward Lungu, expressed happiness on the performance of his students.
“Every Headteacher will feel good if their students are doing well not only in drama but also other areas like sports and even academic performance. I have headed several schools but this is the first time that the school I am heading can make it to the finals of ATEM Drama Competition. These students have put Chibavi on the map,” explained Lungu.
On the problem of funds for transport, Lungu said he was expecting a nod from the Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) to get some funds from the School Development Fund (SDF) for the club to use besides looking for other sponsors.
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