Usanii Na Elimu

While art is mostly promoted and marketed as a form of entertainment, on of my favorite forms of art is edutainment. Using art in a tool in education to help learners understand what is being taught within their classes is nothing new. For a long time now, teachers have employed actors and actresses to stage set book plays for their students. This has become a reliable form of teaching that’s not only reduces the teacher’s work load but also presents works of literature in a way that is enjoyable, entertaining and easy to remember for students.

Live staging of these books ensures that the books are fresh in the students memory as visual learning helps form more lasting memories for the students. During tests and exams, it is easier to recall details that are etched in your mind from a visual performance rather than relying soley on what you have read or what was said to you.

The plays also break the monotony of boredom that students experience because of the normal school routine. Both teachers and students experience the plays together outside of a normal classroom setting making the event more memorable. Teachers can also pull examples from the live performances during classes later in discussion to help their students understand better.

Interacting with the performers during and after the set book plays encourages students to also seek jobs in art and entertainment after school. There are many good actors today within the entertainment industry in Kenya who drew inspiration from actors and actresses who performed these plays for them when they were in school.

Staging setbook based performances also provides affordable training grounds for young actors and actresses who cannot afford to pay for the courses. Those that possess the talent and don’t have the means can often find themselves giving up on their dreams if a different alternative is not provided. Producers of setbook shows have been known to nurture young talent. It is also worth mentioning that the support received from the Ministry of Education and Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development has led to the expansion of this industry.

In a sum, while only a niche group could truly appreciate the art in setbook based performances, many benefit from its existence. I encourage everyone to watch at least one of these performances every season just to keep up with the going ons in literature today or at the very least just sit down and enjoy the play, I guarantee you will love it.