A number of the students at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa are proficient in one or more musical instruments.
Expression Activities
Our students benefit from a variety of expression activities, where they can think creatively, work together, learn new skills, exercise their perseverance and express their identities and thoughts.
Creativity and Culture
Creative thinking is taught in all subjects across the curriculum and essential for students to develop as thinkers. In addition, Music and Art are taught throughout the PYP by specialist teachers. Junior Schools Arts week takes place annually as a showcase for student work.
Drama and Digital Design subject options are added as part of the MYP in Grade 6 and in Grade 9 students choose two Art and Design subjects to specialise in for their final two years.
As part of the Leadership Course in Grades 9 and 10 students run an event called Zawadi Bazaar where they demonstrate creativity as part of the Entrepreneurship unit and run a successful stall using a combination of skills they have learnt in class including design and marketing.
In the Diploma Programme students can pursue Visual and Theatre Arts for study at this level. Every Diploma Programme student participates in the DP1 play, a student led project that builds and demonstrates creativity, teamwork, confidence and leadership.
Beyond the curriculum students have many opportunities to further develop their confidence and communication skills through participation in a range of co-curricular enrichment activities that require them to express opinions and views. They can also develop their skills and passions in visual art, music, and drama and at the same time gain experience in teamwork, perseverance, responsibility and leadership.
While activities take place according to demand, availability or student initiatives, in recent years students have been able to participate in a range of activities including
- LAMDA training (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)
- Instrumental music lessons
- Various choirs and music ensembles
- Music Art and Drama (M.A.D) Night
- TEDx Community Event
- Arts week
- Talent Night
- Lip-synch competition
- Performance Poetry
- Model United Nations
- Debating
- Moot Court (Mock legal proceedings)
Photo Gallery
Musical performances at the Academy are supported and enjoyed by both the faculty and the student body.
The Academy hosts events such as MAD night to showcase the broad range of artistic skills that our students have to offer.
Mind Over Matter Yoga enrichment by Navika Lodhia
Mind Over Matter (MOM) is a yoga enrichment that I created to focus on students’ mental, physical and spiritual well-being. The name ‘Mind Over Matter’ holds a significant meaning because it focuses on the power that we have over ourselves mentally. This name focuses on mental and spiritual wellness, and that, coupled with flexibility, is my goal above all. I think it is a great way to relieve stress and anxiety, especially for students because school can get hectic sometimes.
Running this enrichment has given me a sense of responsibility and the fact that virtual enrichments are optional has pushed me to my limits in finding ways to keep students engaged. Additionally, MOM has contributed to my learning of transferable skills such as teamwork. It is brilliant to see how yoga is used to help people on an individual level, but at the same time, we all come together to learn and teach each other.
All in all, I believe MOM has made me a well-rounded student in terms of leadership. I truly have learned a lot about the responsibilities I have as a leader and I aspire to learn how to be a better leader every day. I now look forward to running this enrichment when school resumes in-person and bring more exciting things to the table, such as yoga dances.
Navika Lodhia, DP2, AKA Mombasa
Ayaan Allarakhia releases uplifting song 'Unaweza'
Ayaan Allarakhia, a Year 10 student at the Aga Khan Academy Mombasa, released an uplifting original song titled ‘Unaweza’ or “You can”, which he wrote to inspire people amid the current global crisis.
“I wanted to encourage and give hope to people that there are better days ahead and we should have faith instead of giving up,” Ayaan said, referencing the COVID-19 pandemic. “I thought it was necessary to remind people that we can do it and we can stay strong during this trying time.”
The song features local artist Mr Shamir Tadeiya, who also served as producer. It was accompanied by a video shot entirely on the Academy’s 18-acre campus. The video, starring students and teachers, has racked up over 12,000 views on YouTube.
Ayaan discovered his love for music at the age of four after his parents gifted him a toy piano for his birthday. They later signed Ayaan up for music classes, where he learned to compose his own songs. Ayaan credits the Academy with providing him numerous opportunities to perform at school events and hone his craft.
“I was given opportunities to sing in front of the whole school so that my talent could be well recognised. This all helped me to express myself better in terms of confidence and collaboration with teachers and students of the school,” Ayaan said.