By Julius John LWENJE (2011, MPP, Tanzania)

KDIS has got talent event took place on 25^th June, 2011 in Lincoln Hall. More than sixty participants attended the event. The KDI staff, local and international student who participated made the event to be even more lively and remarkable as it reflected the real diversity within the KDI community. The event was organised by KDI student under the generous support of the KDI School Administration. The event was specifically organised to enhance relationship among KDI School students and staff as well as to provide the KDI community an opportunity to have fun together and therefore make them start the new semester with new vigour.

The event involved singing competition, balloon bursting competition, beer drinking competition, sitting competition and dancing performance. The Mc and DJ of the event, Chan Ju Lee and DJ Nilufar Murtazaeva respectively, did a lot to make the even live and indeed to make every one in the hall happy.

The event started around 7 pm. Lincoln Hall was no longer the same; the platform had been beautifully adorned making every participant to glue his or her eyes on it in appreciation of Naila Ismayilova’s work. The hall was left with only few seats and few tables that were arranged on two parts of the hall each flooded with drinks, pizzas, nachos, nuts, candies and fruits. On entering the hall, every participant was immediately welcomed by one of these tables and could first start by serving himself with what attracted him most as he or she went on figuring out what to eat or drink on the second round and so on. By the time the performances started everyone had a pizza or a drink in hand or both. The environment in the hall was really fascinating and perfect for every one.  The unearthly delight that everyone was feeling could be openly read from the ever jovial faces of participants. 

The singing competition initiated the event. The Competition involved two groups; one group was lead by Sampa Saha and the other by Joseph Owusu-Ansah. The competition entailed singers singing songs which starts with the last letter of the song that had been sang by the preceding singer. The group leaders first started competed between them and later on the competition was shifted to their members. Sana Ehsan and Ashanni Sharma rescued their groups several times by constantly emerging with songs before the count down. The Indian melody songs the two were singing, touched many participants who constantly showed their appreciation by massive applause, though however they did not understand the meaning. Both groups demonstrated outstanding talents of singing.

Mahinda Gunaratna emerged the winner in the balloon bursting game. This game required one to avoid enemies bursting his balloon as he or she struggle to burst theirs. In this game nine participants were competing to burst each others balloon, and thus the winner was the one who finally remained with the balloon in his hand.

Beer drinking competition drew a lot of attention among the keen spectators who ended up forming a small man-circle that engulfed the contestants as everyone wanted to witness who was going to emerge the winner. Each team had six members. The competition was conducted using relay race principles whereby a first member from each group started drinking and as soon as he finishes the second member in his group would proceed, and so on until the last participant. This contest saw Phyrith Nou, Miss HYUN-Ju Kim and Mahinda Gunaratna attracting many spectators by their fast and non stop gulping of a cup of Cass within few seconds.

Martin Okwir and Severin Kapinga led their team, which was made up of international student from Africa, to perform African songs. The pronounced rhythms of the African songs and the way these guys were shaking their waists attracted all participants who responded by flooding on the floor, everyone dancing in his or her own style amid applause, jumping and ululations. It was amazing to see how powerful music can be in uniting people.

In the sitting competition, Belkacem Mehada emerged the winner and the second position was taken by Uzma Ibrahim. The competition started with twelve participants. The winner managed to retain his seat after eleven seats were eliminated one by one at each dancing round subsequent to which one member was being eliminated accordingly.

By the time Amita Pramasufi winded up the event by her sweet pop song, most participants were still active and thirsty to proceed with dancing. Winners and outstanding performers were awarded prizes. More than twenty five matched out with prizes. The event was recommended by most participants who even suggested that such event be routinely organised.