After toiling for five years without getting any result, Jacaranda School for Orphans Secondary School on Saturday finally got it right as they were crowned 2017 French Schools Drama Festival champions.
\nHeld at Bangwe Secondary School in Blantyre, the Chigumula-based school made sure the trophy remained in the Southern Region, when it outclassed six other finalists during the national finals of the 30th edition of the French Schools Drama Festival.
\nIt was all joy in the packed hall for Jacaranda, who went into ecstasy, invading the stage to receive the big trophy soon after Chief Judge Timwa Lipenga announced that they were the winners.
\n\u201cWe didn\u2019t see this coming; it was tough because all the schools worked hard. For years, we have tried, with no positive results. Finally, we got it right,\u201d Joseph Nkhoma, one of the teachers at the school, said.
\nHe said that they will not let the victory get into their heads, but work hard to defend it next year.
\nJacaranda won with their play Le Conflit d\u2019inte\u2019rests.
\nThe school also produced the Best Supporting Actor in Pemphero Chiwaya, who received books.
\nAs winners, Jacaranda received a glittering trophy, books, medals and school bags and the French teacher at the school is expected to travel to Zimbabwe.
\nWhile it was tears of joy for Jacaranda, which, in the past, even failed to make it to the top three, it was tears of pain for schools such as Marymount Girls, Likuni Boys and Phwezi Girls, who were closer and yet so far.
\nMarymount from Mzuzu made sure they got something for the Northern Region when they came second with their play L\u2019Appearance Trompe. They received a small trophy, books, bags, among other things.
\nLikuni Boys Secondary School from Lilongwe, who represented the Central Region, came third with Phwezi Girls from the Northern Region coming fourth.
\nLilongwe Girls, representing the Central Region, came fifth, Police Secondary School from Zomba in the Southern region was sixth while Darlo Private Secondary School from the Central Region came last.
\n In terms of individual categories, 13-year-old Form Two student, Mike Sitolo of Likuni Boys Secondary School, was the toast of the day when he scooped two awards \u2013 Second Best Male French Speaker and Best Actor.
\nSitolo impressed the judges with his acting skills as well as French speaking and he even stunned the audience as he played a female role.
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t expect to get the two awards. I will continue acting because it\u2019s fun and, through this competition, I have improved my French speaking,\u201d Sitolo, who dreams of becoming a lawyer, said.
\nAs the Second Best Male French Speaker, Sitolo received books while, as the Best Actor, he carted home a bicycle and books.
\nThe Best Actress was Nomsa Zgambo from Marymount, who received books and a bicycle.
\nThe Best French Speaker (Male) went to Amos Galeta from Police Secondary School, who also received a bicycle and books, while the Best French Speaker (Female) went to Temwani Gumbo from Phwezi Girls, who also got a bicycle and books.
\nThe competition is sponsored by Jacaranda Foundation in partnership with Total Malawi, Mzuzu University and French Embassy.
\nTotal Malawi Limited Managing Director, Aegidia Schnepp, said she was satisfied with the results as well as performances of the schools.
\n\u201cIt was great; a lot of energy and commitment from the students. We are satisfied with the results and the level of French spoken by the students,\u201d Schnepp said.
\nShe said, as a French company, they will continue to be part of the competition and pledged more support.
\nJacaranda Foundation Executive Director, Luc Deschamps, who is also French Honorary Consul to Malawi, said the level of competition was improving every year.
\n\u201cIt was a great success, the level of competition is improving every year and we are very pleased with the schools that participated in the grand finale. The plays tackled several issues, including corruption, and we saw great talent,\u201d Deschamps said.
\nDespite the schools showing flashes of talent, some of the plays on the day lacked depth and, in some cases, there was too much overuse of choruses and flashbacks.
\nThe schools also did not do enough research as per the theme Tout ce qui brille n\u2019est pas, meaning All that glitters is not gold.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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