well done men and ladies .... not quite the old Suave Rosam melody but still stirring .. god bless from an old boy '52-'56 and stick with the Nihil Praeter Optimum spirit ... you cant beat tradition !
Words to the School Anthem: Thoughts and deed shall bide with task Keep the Rose bright ye our emblem Sieve the trash dear Lord we ask For Nihil Praeter Optimum In pride we ride With rules abide As all the boys and staff combine All members here in Lenana We aim at Nothing But The Best. Nihil Praeter Optimum Set for all opportunities We all come to be well spun By wide responsibilities With class and sports and much in both For moral health and bodies growth For gaining here in Lenana The best and Nothing But The Best. Nothing but the best we stress For our peace, love and unity Let us join our land’s progress And Kenya’s firm stability O lets enjoy our leadership And thank the Lord whom we worship As boys stride on through Lenana Achieving Nothing But The Best.
The story of the “Lenana School Song:” 1980 with Dr. William Obaga (head of music 🎶 , 1980-1985) & Mwenesi, head of school, 1980 I had a good conversation with my friend and colleague Dr. William Obaga on May 23, 2021. During annual Founders Day at Starehe Boys Centre, there was traditionally a football match between Starehe Boys Centre and Lenana School. In 1980, Mr. J.N. Kanyi was the headmaster, Mr. D.P. Oketch the deputy head, and Dr. William Obaga the head of music 🎶 . Mr. D.P. Oketch was very impressed by Starehe Boys Centre as they sung their school anthem before the match. Consequently, he encouraged Dr. Obaga to write a school song for Lenana. To this end, in October of 1980, the music and literature department collaborated, and came up with a criteria and challenged A-Level students to write poems as the lyrics for the school song. This was a competitive process with a monetary honorarium for the winning poem. And the incumbent head of school, Mwenesi had the winning poem. Congratulations 🎉 Mwenesi. Dr. Obaga and Mwenesi collaboratively adjusted the words of his poem. Additionally, Dr. Obaga composed the melody and harmonies for the school song. Dr. Obaga, who was a lecturer in church music and intercultural theology at University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology,, Hermannsburg, Germany, for 5 years, recently returned to Kenya. He is currently working with an international American organization, World Mission Prayer League, as the incumbent regional director for Africa. As the original composer of the “Rose,” he has generously offered to rearrange it for band and/or orchestra. Based on his hand written original score attached. He typed the lyrics using his portable typewriter. Dr. Obaga is a registered member of the Laibon Society - as an alumni teacher. “Nihil Praeter Optimum!” Prof. Everett Shiverenje Igobwa, teacher, 1991 and affiliated to Carey Francis House Liaison, Laibon Society North America
Moffat, Judah, Ngala🙌
well done men and ladies .... not quite the old Suave Rosam melody but still stirring .. god bless from an old boy '52-'56 and stick with the Nihil Praeter Optimum spirit ... you cant beat tradition !
Not quite. But that melody will be done again soon, a tribute to all Yorkists.
Lenana to the world.❤❤😍😭
Words to the School Anthem:
Thoughts and deed shall bide with task
Keep the Rose bright ye our emblem
Sieve the trash dear Lord we ask
For Nihil Praeter Optimum
In pride we ride
With rules abide
As all the boys and staff combine
All members here in Lenana
We aim at Nothing But The Best.
Nihil Praeter Optimum
Set for all opportunities
We all come to be well spun
By wide responsibilities
With class and sports
and much in both
For moral health and bodies growth
For gaining here in Lenana
The best and Nothing But The Best.
Nothing but the best we stress
For our peace, love and unity
Let us join our land’s progress
And Kenya’s firm stability
O lets enjoy our leadership
And thank the Lord whom we worship
As boys stride on through Lenana
Achieving Nothing But The Best.
Amazing
The story of the “Lenana School Song:” 1980 with Dr. William Obaga (head of music 🎶 , 1980-1985) & Mwenesi, head of school, 1980
I had a good conversation with my friend and colleague Dr. William Obaga on May 23, 2021.
During annual Founders Day at Starehe Boys Centre, there was traditionally a football match between Starehe Boys Centre and Lenana School. In 1980, Mr. J.N. Kanyi was the headmaster, Mr. D.P. Oketch the deputy head, and Dr. William Obaga the head of music 🎶 .
Mr. D.P. Oketch was very impressed by Starehe Boys Centre as they sung their school anthem before the match. Consequently, he encouraged Dr. Obaga to write a school song for Lenana.
To this end, in October of 1980, the music and literature department collaborated, and came up with a criteria and challenged A-Level students to write poems as the lyrics for the school song. This was a competitive process with a monetary honorarium for the winning poem. And the incumbent head of school, Mwenesi had the winning poem. Congratulations 🎉 Mwenesi.
Dr. Obaga and Mwenesi collaboratively adjusted the words of his poem. Additionally, Dr. Obaga composed the melody and harmonies for the school song.
Dr. Obaga, who was a lecturer in church music and intercultural theology at University of Applied Sciences for Intercultural Theology,, Hermannsburg, Germany, for 5 years, recently returned to Kenya. He is currently working with an international American organization, World Mission Prayer League, as the incumbent regional director for Africa.
As the original composer of the “Rose,” he has generously offered to rearrange it for band and/or orchestra. Based on his hand written original score attached. He typed the lyrics using his portable typewriter.
Dr. Obaga is a registered member of the Laibon Society - as an alumni teacher.
“Nihil Praeter Optimum!”
Prof. Everett Shiverenje Igobwa, teacher, 1991 and affiliated to Carey Francis House
Liaison, Laibon Society North America
Awesome stuff.... nothing but the best
Perfect rendition.
Well done @levi and team 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Wow 👏👏👏👏
Simply amazing!
Beautiful!
Nihil Praeter Optimum ✔️✔️
Beautiful... I'm an old boy TM House 13' where can I get the sheet music... I'd love to be part of this musical
It's available at the school music department.
Tm 96
Nothing but!!
This makes me nolstagic of my days in the band
Great
Nihil Praeter Optimum