The Categories

Short Play - Play Writing

The Short Play category of the competition is designed to give teenagers and youths in secondary school – across the Niger Delta region – an opportunity to express their thoughts through a short drama piece highlighting the issues of Climate Change. Entrants (Students) will be expected to write short drama pieces. They will be expected to draw inspiration from the problems of Climate Change such as Hunger, Desertification as a result of Deforestation, Freak Weather and the solutions to Climate Change such as Recycling, Energy Preservation / Conservation, Lifestyle Change.

African culture and lifestyle is rich with systems for preserving the environment.  All works must have a primary element of our traditional African culture. We need to remind ourselves of these systems and adopt the ones that are practical and will contribute to reversing Global Climate Change.  All entries should be anchored on this year’s United Nations World Environment Day slogan – “CO₂ Kick the Habit!  Towards a Low Carbon Economy”.

Winning entries will be selected by a panel of judges. The best of the entries may be used to develop the plot and framework of a musical play entitled “The Earth My Daughter”.  In making the final presentation, entrants will be allowed the unique opportunity to develop creative play writing skills and work with a team of theatre professionals to develop and stage their scripts.

Poetry

Similar to play writing, the Poetry category of the competition is designed to test and enhance effective writing and literary skills in students and teenagers.  The competition will also provide them the opportunity to express, through creative means, their thoughts, on the issues surrounding Climate Change.

Entries are expected to be well written poems inspired by the problems of Climate Change such as Hunger, Desertification as a result of Deforestation, Freak Weather and the solutions to Climate Change such as Recycling, Energy Preservation / Conservation, Lifestyle Change. Again, all entries should be anchored on this year’s United Nations World Environment Day slogan – “CO₂ Kick the Habit!  Towards a Low Carbon Economy”.

Music

The music category is an exciting category with the aim to stimulate musical creativity in teenagers.  Entrants will enjoy this unique opportunity to show case their talent and creativity in writing and composing musical pieces as well as performing their works alongside professional theatre directors.

Entrants will be expected to express their thoughts through an instrumental composition or song writing and arrangement (to be performed as an Acappella). The compositions should be inspired by the following themes Global Warming, Melting Ice, Barren Lands brought about by Desertification, Natural Disasters due to Freak Weather conditions, Recycling and other sub themes relating to Climate Change. Particular attention will be paid to entries that use African Instruments and explore emerging musical forms and trends.

The best of the entries may be developed to form the score of the play “The Earth My Daughter”.  Students will also have the opportunity to perform their musical piece as part of the final presentation along side theatre professionals.

Dance

The Dance category of the competition is designed by the organisers, to give teenagers and youths, in secondary schools, across the region, an opportunity to express their thoughts through Dance.  Traditional dancing is a major element in African culture, the dance category has be adopted into this year’s competition to showcase the rich talent embedded in teenagers and youth, especially in the area of designing and arranging a dance ensemble fashioned after a basic theme.

Entrants will be expected to explore concepts and ideas in line with the issues surrounding this year’s World Environment Day slogan such as extended raining season causing floods as a result of climate change, famine and loss of agricultural products resulting in hunger and famine in parts of Africa, Global Warming, Melting Ice etc. Particular attention will be paid to entries that use African concepts as well as explore emerging dance forms and trends.