A group of teens and young adults from the Child of Mercy Children’s Home (COMECH) took the stage for the first time on December 13 in Mombasa, Kenya, marking a key milestone for a vocational pilot launched earlier this year by Trust Drum Circles.
The program introduced students to traditional Kenyan drum-making, ensemble drumming, dance, and music production, pairing artistic training with practical, income-generating skills.
A Public Performance of Kenyan Traditions
During the event, held at Akamba Handicraft, the COMECH group performed alongside seasoned elders in a cultural event that celebrated Kenya’s rich musical traditions. While elder groups presented traditional Kamba dances, COMECH students (teens and young adults) stood out as the youngest performers on stage, showcasing a Luo traditional dance. Ian Onyango, manager of Akamba Handicraft, described the performance as “excellent,” and COMECH Social Worker Susan Aliero praised the performance, saying, “Our boys and girls looked stunning in their traditional attire…It felt like a true celebration of Kenyan heritage.”
Overall, the group did an outstanding job. Gabriel Oduor, a Kenyan musician with Rapala Cultural Dancers who helped prepare the COMECH students for the performance, said the children showed “remarkable growth from the beginning of the training to the final performance,” noting that it took “confidence and courage” to perform in front of “high dignitaries and political leaders.”
Community members and local leaders were enthusiastic about the performance. At one point, Aliero said guests were “so moved that they joined the children on stage to dance with them!” The community engagement served as a meaningful acknowledgment of the COMECH students’ hard work. They were more than dancers, Onyango commented. They danced with “instruments they had made on their own.”
Community Response and Recognition
The performance spotlight created opportunity and visibility. After the event, the COMECH group received a token of appreciation from Mombasa Gov. Abdulswamad Shariff Nassir, who attended the event. The recognition, Aliero said, “means a lot to us as an institution.”
She also credited mentorship from Rapala Cultural Dancers and partnerships facilitated by Trust Drum Circles with Akamba Handicraft as key outcomes. “Seeing them guide the children from training all the way to the final performance was a masterclass in collaboration,” Aliero said, adding that the partnerships are “opening doors we couldn’t have reached on our own.”
The collaborative impact was echoed by Onyango who said he was excited to collaborate on future projects, and Oduor, who noted the event “strengthened community bonds” and demonstrated how “art and culture can positively impact the lives of children.”
Beyond the Stage
In a related milestone, the COMECH group released its first single, “Best Friend,” a song developed during the pilot program through Kitaa Records under producer and studio engineer David Mukeku Mutua, who works under the name Producer Nau. “It was easy to work with them,” he said.
Mutua said the students’ talent became increasingly clear during the recording process. “At first, I saw them like any other kids,” he said. “But after listening, I saw something in them beyond the normal. They are playful, but they have massive talent.” He highlighted the song’s strengths, saying the track aligns with current international music trends that give it broad, global appeal, while also noting its impact. “The song is very emotional, especially with the farewell theme.”
The students perform under the name Abdul Mwadzini & The Straysurfers, and the song is available online HERE.
To learn more about how the initiative began, and where it’s headed, read our original feature, Building Skills, Shaping Futures.
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