Drama group faces police teargas after school play upsets officials! Butere Girls High School was banned from performing their play "Echoes of War" despite winning regional festivals. Their previous play, "Shackles of Doom," was also banned back in 2013. Both plays were written by politician Cleophas Malala, who police arrested when he tried entering Kirobon Girls High School during rehearsals. Malala waved court orders permitting the performance as officers teargassed journalists nearby.
The controversial play takes place in a made-up Middle Eastern kingdom with fights between young people and strict older rulers. The main character develops medical technology that angers the government, causing his arrest. His girlfriend broadcasts everything live online to make people angry about his situation. Education officials first stopped students from wearing costumes or using props, later allowing just the national anthem before police scattered everyone with tear gas. The school faced similar problems twelve years ago when officials thought their plays criticized Kenya's politics.
MP Nabii Nabwera questioned why children can't experience good playwriting because adults fear seeing society's problems. Former teacher union leader Wilson Sossion mentioned concerns about outside writers working with students. The national drama festival keeps happening despite these troubles, though the education TV channel didn't broadcast when all the chaos happened at the Lions Junior School performance space.
The controversial play takes place in a made-up Middle Eastern kingdom with fights between young people and strict older rulers. The main character develops medical technology that angers the government, causing his arrest. His girlfriend broadcasts everything live online to make people angry about his situation. Education officials first stopped students from wearing costumes or using props, later allowing just the national anthem before police scattered everyone with tear gas. The school faced similar problems twelve years ago when officials thought their plays criticized Kenya's politics.
MP Nabii Nabwera questioned why children can't experience good playwriting because adults fear seeing society's problems. Former teacher union leader Wilson Sossion mentioned concerns about outside writers working with students. The national drama festival keeps happening despite these troubles, though the education TV channel didn't broadcast when all the chaos happened at the Lions Junior School performance space.
