By Staff Writer

Themi Primary School has emerged the best performing institution in the recently held ‘Easter Art Camp’ which took place last month and whose winners were announced last week during the National Museum Day which observed at the Boma Museum on Friday, May 18.

There were 20 winners from all the three categories and it was Themi Primary which had a winning pupil in each. Musa Mohammed aged 12, from Themi won in the HIV-Aids category, Silas John and Japhet Anthony, both aged 13, emerged winners in the ‘Communications’ theme painting, while Ludovick Gaitan took a prize for the best picture under the ‘Environment’ theme.

Daraja Mbili Primary School followed with three best performing artists in the persons of, Johnson Theodore and Jesca Saimon both of whom, also took prizes in the ‘Environment’ category and Yusuph Shaaban who won in the ‘Communications,’ theme painting.

It was a rather strange development since both Themi and Daraja-Mbili, even Kaloleni which had two winners, are all public schools where apparently, no art classes are ever conducted. According to the coordinator, Mwalimu Pelle Shaibu, it was amazing that public schools should beat their counterparts, the privately owned English Medium ones where Arts lessons are part of their academic menus.

Other winners of the ‘Easter Art Camp 2007' are; Neema Malima of Naasha Junior Academy who took prizes in two categories; the ‘Environment’ theme painting and HIV-Aids category. The other two-time winner was, Godfrey Elias of Saint Jude Primary, who was awarded for his two winning entries in the ‘Communications’ and ‘HIV-Aids categories.

Yahsin Khamis Haji a ten-year-old pupil of Kaloleni Primary also won in the two categories of ‘HIV-Aids’ and ‘Environment,’ while his age mate, Aboubakar Oudra of St. Jude managed a prize under the ‘HIV-Aids’ theme. There seemed to be a high response under the HIV theme because also Gilbert Lucas a 13- year- old pupil of Kijenge Primary walked away with a prize under this category.

The other 13- year-old participant, Nasr Ally of Meru Primary went home with a prize for a drawing which managed to win under the ‘Communications’ theme painting. The rest of winning participants were three young contenders who had to be awarded simply for their young ages of five and below. These are; George Washa a pupil of Kilimani school, Hillary Chris (Imani Academy) and Eliya Rozeck of Burka.

Prizes includes drawing kits, books and pens. Both the winners and the other 200 participants also got special attendance certificates. The event was sponsored by Kase Book Stores Limited, Set Life Stationers and Book Point. For some unexplained reasons, the Tanzania Telecommunications (TTCL) Arusha branch pulled out in the last minute.

A similar Art Competition is scheduled for August, when Secondary School students will be trying their artist skills in coming up with drawings related to the theme of ‘National Heroes day’ which will be observed on the 1^st of September.