© Victor Ochieng’
Sir Vincent Omondi Mayienga — the Chief Principal Homa Bay School — is with no tad of doubt, an orator par excellence. His excellence in speech delivery makes you think of Marcus Tullius Cicero and Demosthenes of Athens.
Foremost, speeches of this powerful Principal obeys wise words in the Little Green Book of Getting Your Way. In that heroic book, Jeffrey Gitomer contends that any speaker who yearns to evince eloquence should own the material and maintain the platform presence. The sage standing on stage should have the total control.
Indeed, when you visit Homa Bay School, at the sultry shores of Nam Lolwe, Lake Victoria, you will meet and greet this gem from Gem of Siaya, who is complete with nyadhi, which in Lep Luo means great éclat, sartorial style. He is flamboyant in everything: Dress code, loud laughter and the way he weaves words.
Ostensibly, other Principals can pick something from this Principal, whose knack for excellence and eloquence — charms plenty of people, especially his students and staff.
Once upon a time, he apprised me that when he invites a speaker to address his students, he would hardly miss in action.
As a scribe and a speaker, I saw some scintilla of sense in his stance. For when students see their Principal and teachers in-attendance in such incisive sessions, their perception towards those programmes gain important impetus.
Why? I can say in this essay, peripatetic speakers like yours truly, visit schools to install the right mindset in students and staff. Learning cannot take place without a seismic shift in attitude, which is part and parcel of learning: Change of behaviour and attitude.
Therefore, when Principal Mayienga picks the microphone to introduce a speaker, he lifts the bar of expectation to lofty levels. It is akin to what John Bercow did before Barrack Obama addressed the British Parliament.
Again, my friend understands what Brian Tracy says in his best-selling book titled Speak to Win pertaining the introduction of a speaker: a task that must be seriously formal. On many occasions, because of the time and attention given, the oeuvre of the introduction should be better than the speech itself.
Actually, Mayienga, which in Dholuo means the one who shakes things, is also a spell- binding orator, who has mastered the science and art of establishing a thralldom as he ushers in any good guest to address the audience.
He knows how to set a good mood for the meeting. The quotes and anecdotes he dotes on in his humble preamble are the needle that neatly knits his prefatory presentations. He mentions the moniker, qualifications and qualities of the speaker that connect with the great event.
This legendary leader cites fantastic facts about the person, and points out why the school decided to settle on the guest. Ideally, even as the guest speaker takes over: to inform students and staff, it is true that Mr. Mayienga in many cases stamps his aura of authority by prefacing every presentation.
Again, in my opinion as a penman, Principals that yearn to remain in charge of the school must learn to use the good gift of the gab to win hearts of students and staff. Principals can use their tongues to foster teamwork, unity of purpose, loyalty and discipline.
In Colossians 4:6, Apostle Paul of Tarsus admonished the Christendom, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt…” Meaning, Principals should deliver informative, insightful and inspirational speeches: at the school assemblies, annual General Meetings (AGMs) and in every academic clinic.
In addition, they should adhere to the art of rhetoric attributed to the great Greek philosopher — Aristotle, who believed in persuasion as the prime purpose for speech delivery. He called it rhetoric — the ability to see the available means to win minds and hearts.
Moreover, the Athenian thinker who lived in the years of yore: welded everything together as logos, pathos and ethos. Logos refers to the logic, words and reason in the argument. Pathos focuses on the power to stir up emotions in listeners: the emotional part of the argument, which perhaps happens to be the most preponderant part.
Ethos, which cascades to ethics, is the power of personal character. The best presenters communicate naturally as real people. They are never plastic or cosmetic, but natural and lively.
Finally, most political bigwigs know this sweet secret. They strive to create class and clout through delivery of phenomenal speeches. This explains why Tom Mboya will remain etched in our mortal minds like a printed book.
The man from Rusinga Island had a silver tongue. What of his friend John Fitzgerald Kennedy? His carefully-crafted speech titled We Choose to Go to the Moon, delivered in 1962 at the Rice University, inspired and invigorated the American scientist to make a giant leap to the moon.
Likewise, the good gift of the gab is what made Barrack Obama Jr. to become the 44th President of the United States (POTUS). Through Yes We Can speech, he swayed the minds of Americans, and made a majestic match to the hallowed house on the hill, The White House.
The writer rolls out talks and training services in schools. vochieng.90@gmail.com. 0704420232
