MKU now names arts institution after Churchill
By James Wakahiu
Mount Kenya University (MKU) has partnered with one of Kenya’s most popular comedians, Daniel Ndambuki alias Churchill, in a move aimed at supporting art and growing talent in its campuses.
MKU Institute of Performing and Creative Arts has partnered with Churchill to form the MKU-Churchill Institute of Performing and Creative Arts, the university says in a statement. “Churchill has been instrumental in supporting art and students from our campuses have been given opportunities by the comedian on his stand up TV show – Churchill Show,” said MKU.
The university added that young people deserve opportunities that will build their careers and teaming up with Churchill was a step in the right direction. “MKU is nationally known as a wellspring of youth talent, having won the Kenya National Drama Festival title in 2015 and impressive performances in all consecutive years. Our students have in the past auditioned and appeared in the Churchill Show,” the statement read.
MKU-Churchill Institute of Performing and Creative Arts is modelled on the Oxford University Dramatic Society that was started by Alec MacKinnon in 1885 and has birthed many famous actors around the world.
Churchill, as is with the case of many other local thespians, started at the famous Kenya National Theatre. “We realised that so many youths have untapped talents in performance and creative arts. We aim to reactivate and rejuvenate their talents through this Churchill Institute of Performing Art,” the institution noted.
MKU said during the pandemic, many people suffered from mental health-related challenges brought about by job losses and tough economic times, triggering the university to create avenues that promote arts and can be used as sources of revenue during unprecedented times.
Through Churchill Institute of Performing Arts, MKU is strategizing to boost the production of entertainment. Plans are underway to nurture talent-based education whereby scholarships will be issued to those who exhibit potential for excellence. The scholarships will be similar to the sports scholarships offered by universities in the US.
The deal comes in the backdrop of a new beginning for Churchill Show which moved to TV47 after years of airing on NTV. The Churchill Show will be video-taped at MKU beginning in this month. The show will later be unveiled in the grand launch that will take place at MKU with various artists set to stage performances.
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