The International University of East Africa (IUEA) recently held its 2022 Cultural Gala, where students from Kenya competed against ten other countries to win the best poem title.
The theme for the gala was: Celebrate, embrace and discover culture.
With a student body made up of students from over 40 countries, IUEA is one of the most diverse universities in Uganda.
The annual gala is one of the most vibrant and exciting events to take place in Kampala.
The IUEA Cultural Gala is a day of fun and entertainment, filled with beautiful performances by groups representing each country studying at the university.
The 2022 competition featured student participants from eleven (11) African Countries; Eritrea, South Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, Liberia, Cameroon, Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Creativity, discipline, presentation, language, gender balance, teamwork, and stage usage were vital this year.
Students displayed the richness, diversity, uniqueness and ingenuity of the African continent through categories of traditional dance, drama, folk songs, poems and food.
Kenya topped the category for best poem in this year’s IUEA Cultural Gala.
Their poem, titled “Mumbi”, was exceptional.
The poem described Kenya’s fantastic wildlife, the beautiful sceneries of diverse ecosystems, and the unique landscape.
Kenya was also named second best in food presentation.
IUEA Vice-Chancellor Prof. Emeka Akaezuwa and chief guest Joseph Tonye Brown (Cultural ambassador to African Union) handed over certificates to the winners, 1st Runners-up, and 2nd Runner-up of each category.
The judges noted that each team left a mark of excellence, despite the intense competition.
The judges recognized South Sudan as the best in traditional dance, Uganda best in traditional folk song, Nigeria best in drama, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) best in modeling, while Eritrea and Somalia tied in the best food category.
Chief Judge of the competition, Nameere Justine (presidential advisor in the greater Masaka region), declared the competition’s overall winners.
Uganda was named overall 2nd Runners-up, South Sudan named overall 1st Runners-up, and DR Congo, the overall winner.
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