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Saturday, October 2, 2010

Rekindle ASK Show's Glory

Rekindle ASK Shows' Glory
I attended this years Nairobi International Trade Fair and,honestly,I was impressed.There was a great deal to learn  what with the myriads of exhibitions from both local and international circles.My enthusiasm was renewed,having put to paid attending ASK shows a few months ago ,a culmination of disappointments.The Nairobi Show was  at all not  a disappointment;but district(now county) shows are quite a disappointment.

In July this year  I had the opportunity to attend a similar ASK  show in my home county and,frankly,instead of  meeting an exciting ,educative spectacle,I came face to face with the irony it was.The last time I had attended was 2007 and I was hoping things had changed.I was mistaken.

There was nothing new;the same old camel rides,merry-go-rounds(initially meant for children but now taken up by grown-ups),and the disco.Yes,the disco.

To me, ASK Shows main object is agricultural exhibitions ,among other innovative  technological and educative exhibitions.Entertainment,thus,should be peripheral.Yet in many counties across the country it is central..Young people today in counties go to the show mainly to dance,not to learn.

Where went the good old days  when ASK shows would be a festival ingrained in ones memory,something to talk about,something that left one longing for the next?

Simply put,ASK Shows have lost their sweet,old glory in county circles and somebody has to do something about it.Face painting,the man walking on poles the disco and kichwa bila Mwili or Mama Samaki are a great entertainment.But times have changed and we need more educative stuff.