Some of the competing choirs came from the Swaziland. A number of choral music ground-breaking events have been lined up as a build up to the National Competition to be held in Ekurhuleni in October.
These included the KZN Melting Pot Choral Festival which was held in April and was followed by Mpumalanga Melting Pot Choral Festival held on Sunday June 1.
The crème de la crème of choral music in honour of one of South Africa‘s greatest sons OR Tambo, himself a former school choir member at St. Peters, took part.
“It is exciting to be back with this massive festival for a lot of choirs in Mpumalanga. The choirs worked hard and they were very competitive to match the standard of other professionals in the country,” said Ms Gcisa Mdlulwa, CEO of Melting Pot Arts Festival.
“Celebrating 20 years of our democracy through sound, that’ll melt your heart is the theme of the honoured in style with choirs such as Mbabane Methodist Church Choir, Emalahleni Choral Sounds, Manzini Choir, Matsamo Voices and Mpumalanga Choral Artist to mention a few” reads a statement from the organisers
MEC for Culture, sports and recreation Ms Norah Mahlangu in her address stated that it was a great honour for her to be part of the Melting Pot Arts Festival and it was a day of song and dance. She said: “Today is not a day of long speeches, but a day of enjoying music and talent that will be on display throughout the day. Someone once said the following about music: “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent” These words resonate with most of us and encourage all of you not to hold back. If you feel like dancing, dance. If you feel like singing along, please do.
In South Africa music plays an important part in our daily lives. We sing when we are sad, we sing when we are happy, we sing when a child is born and we sing when we lay our loved ones to rest. That is the way we do things in the country. Music is therapeutic to South Africans.
Even during the dark days of Apartheid, music provided solace to millions of our brothers and sisters and played a part in the liberation struggle as liberation songs became the weapon with which our people resisted apartheid and these songs also rallied our people to be vigorous in the fight against injustices that were meted out to our people.”
The Oliver and Adelaide Tambo Foundation endorses this festival. “Embracing the Melting Pot National Festival Tribute to OR Tambo was thus the most natural thing to do for the foundation.
“They will perform songs that were close to Tambo’s heart. There will be some unbelievable musical renditions, vocal and instrumental, by different artists. It’s an experience you have to see to fully appreciate,” said Msimang.
CEO of Melting Pot Arts Festival, Gcisa Mdlulwa said, ”It has been a long journey preparing this pot and now we are ready to melt the soul of our nation through the beautiful voices that will be at Durban City Hall. This is our way of remembering Tata OR Tambo for his love of music.”
The National Ekurhuleni Melting Pot Choral Festival Tribute to OR Tambo will be held in Carnival City in Ekurhuleni over two days of a musical bonanza this year on October 18 and 19.
Msukaligwa were the overall winners in the standard section and His Majesty Correctional Services Choir from Swaziland walked away with the first prize in the large section.
