The Spoken Arts and Debate Society successfully hosts the East African World Schools Debate Championship 2024
By Wanjiru Karugu
The East African World Schools Debate Championship 2024 unfolded as a thrilling annual tournament hosted at USIU-Africa from May 10-12. This prestigious event aimed to unite the young budding debaters of East Africa in healthy competition, honing their oration and critical thinking skills for their future debate careers. Furthermore, the tournament served as a crucial fundraising mechanism for the Spoken Arts and Debate Society (SADS) to host the East African Universities Debate Championship in August 2024.
Adhering to the World Schools Style format, the tournament accommodated teams of 3 to 5 speakers. The main speeches were set at 8 minutes each, while reply speeches were 4 minutes long. The tournament, capped at 60 teams, encouraged early registration. Schools had the option to enter either debate or public speaking categories, fielding junior (O-level), senior (A-level) teams, or both.
The event featured both prepared and impromptu debates, allowing teams 60 minutes to prepare for impromptu motions. Extensive feedback and training sessions enriched the competition between rounds. The debate segment included 5 preliminary rounds, leading up to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.
SADS members who participated as esteemed judges in the tournament were Francis Chege, Angel Mala, Joshua Wambugu, Wanjiru Karugu, Joy Wairimu, Monicah Njoki, Injira, Bridget Lena and Maria Njoki. These judges excelled, effectively deliberating debate rounds and providing insightful feedback to participants. Impressively, some judges were selected as panelists for the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals, highlighting their exceptional performance in the preliminary rounds. These distinguished judges included Angel Mala, Joshua Wambugu, Maria Njoki, and Francis Chege.
The East African World Schools Debate Championship 2023 stands as a testament to the intellectual prowess and organizational skills of SADS. By facilitating a successful regional tournament and raising funds for future endeavors, SADS demonstrated its commitment to the art of debate. As we reflect on this memorable event, we look forward to future opportunities for collaboration, growth, and excellence in debate. The club extends its gratitude to all who contributed to the success of this championship, which continues to be a beacon of intellectual exchange and spirited competition in the East African debate community.
