Young Voices Speak Up for Pangolins and Rhinos | CollabFund

An insight into the CollabFund project Co-MammalHub by Lydia Nafula and Jonathan Kiprop.

Co-MammalHub hosted a Spoken Word and Poetry Competition at the Nairobi National Museum (NNM) on 5 June 2026. The call to participate in the event was sent out to high schools within the NNM network based in the two counties surrounding the museum. Schools were invited to register their interest in participating in the competition on a first-come, first-served basis. To promote inclusivity, two places were specifically reserved for schools that cater to learners with disabilities. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with all available places quickly filled. Four schools were represented – Jamhuri High School, MPESA Foundation Academy, Kambui Secondary School for the Hearing Impaired and Thika High School for the Visually Impaired. The competition also served as the opening event for the Co-MammalHub activities in Nairobi.

Spoken Word and Poetry

Designed for high school learners aged 13 to 17, the competition encouraged participants to creatively engage with the theme, “A World Without Pangolins and Rhinos”. The four schools were given the theme a month before the competition day, and learners were tasked to come up with a poem or spoken word presentation on either pangolins or rhinos. Participants submitted a written version of their poem or spoken word piece, which was assessed during the first round of judging.

This initial round was followed by a live presentation of the works at the NNM’s amphitheatre, where participants performed before an audience and a judging panel. The performances took place in front of a custom-designed backdrop that featured a life-sized giant ground pangolin and white rhino in a Savanna landscape. The schools could decide whether their entries would be presented by individual learners or by groups. Beyond the performers themselves, additional learners attended the event as part of the audience, enabling them to benefit from the experience and exposure. The event provided both learners and educators with opportunities beyond their usual school environment. One of the highlights of the competition was the poetry performances of hearing-impaired learners, which were delivered in sign language and interpreted by the teachers. This act enabled the audience to appreciate and understand the impactful messages being conveyed.

The day’s activities also included a storytelling session by Zamaleo ACT focused on animal stories. Storytelling is an artform used to pass on information in a fun and interactive way. Many African folktales have animals as the main characters. These animals are used to promote positive behaviour and discourage negative actions. The storytellers used interludes of music and performance to engage the audience. The day’s activities ended with a guided tour of the NNM, with a special focus on the pangolin and rhinos in the exhibitions.

Reflection

The event was well received as reflected in positive feedback from both learners and teachers. The event had a very good turn-out with 48 high school learners in attendance. The NNM’s Education Department, who co-organized the Co-MammalHub event, were pleased with the outcome. At the conclusion of the event, it was agreed that all the learners and teachers deserved recognition for their dedication and hard work in researching pangolins and rhinos, developing their understanding of these species, and creating thoughtful poetry and spoken word presentations. Rhinos and pangolins were equally represented in the presentations. However, the competition significantly increased awareness of pangolins, whose conservation challenges are generally less well known than those facing rhinos. This heightened interest was reflected in the greater number of questions participants asked about pangolins compared to rhinos.

The spoken word and poetry event provided a unique opportunity to visit the NNM, especially for those who had not been there before. Learners and teachers were able to see the pangolin and rhinos they had been researching from a different perspective in a museum setting. They also learnt more about these endangered animals and the role the museum plays in conservation and educating the public on such matters.

The Authors

Lydia Nafula
Researcher, Curator and Facilitator
National Museums of Kenya
TheMuseumsLab Alumna

Jonathan Kiprop
Education Department
Nairobi National Museum

The initiative TheMuseumsLab CollabFund is funded by the Kulturstiftung des Bundes (German Federal Cultural Foundation).