The national choral festival was held from October 31 to November 1, as a tribute to the late Oliver Reginald Tambo, who was a freedom fighter, composer and former school choir conductor.
The two-day event saw 10 choirs from different parts of the country and outside our borders singing their hearts out for the R500 000 grand prize, before a panel of judges.
The contestants included Zwelitsha Adult Choir, Gauteng Choristers, SA Singers, His Majesty Choir (Swaziland), Bagale (Lesotho), Voice Of The Nation, African Chorus, Heavenly Voices, Serumula and Transnet Port Terminal.
The competition culminated in two Gauteng-based groups being announced as the winners of the Ekurhuleni Melting Pot Choral Festival’s grand prize.
The first prize was then split between the two choirs – the African Section worth R250 000 went to Voices of the Nation and the Western Section, also worth R250 000, went to Gauteng Choristers.
African Chorus (which consists of 80 voices ranging in age from 21 to 60) went home with R100 000 after the group was announced as the winner in the Isitibili category.
In the category Best Conductors, Sidwell Mhlongo (SA Singers) and Ntombovuyo Kokiso (Transnet Port Terminal) each received a cash prize of R10 000 sponsored by Bravo Africa.
Other musicians who performed at the event included controversial figure Sfiso Ncwane, Dj Black Coffee, Zakes Bantwini, Sibongile Khumalo, Solly Mahlangu and the KZN Philharmonic Orchestra.
The festival was part of the Ekurhuleni municipality’s Tambo Month celebrations, which are held annually in the month of October.
The Tambo family, local government leaders and other national leaders paid homage to O R and Adelaide Tambo at a wreath-laying ceremony in Wattville, during October. -@FanieFLK
