Africa-Press – Eswatini. HIS Majesty’s Correctional Services Choir are the Ntjilo Ntjilo Arts Festival champions.
The choir went home with E20 000 as first prize money.
The competition was held at Esibayeni Lodge on Sunday.
The choir came first both in the Opera and African categories under mixed large choirs.
The Ntjilo Ntjilo Arts Festival which started on Saturday was concluded on Sunday night.
There were over 20 soloists who opened up the competition on Sunday, displaying their vocal abilities before the judges and crowd.
Some soloists donned very nice formal fashion wear from suits to dresses while others shone in their traditional attire.
The soloists performe in different categories, which included bass, tenor, soprano and alto.
The solo category judges were Menzi Gule and Thando Zwane.
According to the score board, Themba Mdlalose was the highest scoring soloist with 86 points and was followed by Bonakele Magongo and Precious Magagula who both scored 85 points.
Starting off the choir category was the Mbabane Methodist Church Choir, which was an all-female group dressed in white gowns as they performed ‘Ngete ngasala nasakha live letfu’.
The mixed standard category saw performances from three choirs, Florence Catholic Church Choir, Pure Voices and Sweet Sounds.
They all performed two songs; Opera and African. The choirs displayed very unique dress codes, which made the whole performance entertaining and enjoyable.
The crowd was uncontrollable each time a choir came on stage as they screamed, appreciating the creativity and wonderful ideas in terms of costumes, attires and short plays witnessed.
Programme Director, Sithembiso Dlamini made the event thrilling with his humorous comments.
Adjudicators took turns as Khonelinkhosi Dlamini and Melisizwe Zwane judged the mixed standard choirs while Vincent Kunene, Liviwe Makhubu and Nikiwe Khumalo scored the mixed large choirs and Zionist category.
The Zionist category, which did not need a pianist, was a marvel to watch as the choirs made sounds that enhanced their performances.
This category also consisted of three choirs: Holy, Kukhanya Okusha and Intando.
The mixed large choirs showed off and gave exceptional performances that had the crowd up on their feet, clapping and cheering each time they got off stage.
The Mbabane Methodist Church Choir, Manzini Choir and His Majesty’s Correctional Services Choir gave it their all, in terms of the costumes worn, the singing capabilities, the mini-acts and dancing displayed.
Before the winners were announced, the Minister of Sports, Cultural and Youth Affairs, Harries Madze Bulunga, extended gratitude to the Ntjilo-Ntjilo Festival organisers in collaboration with the Choral Music Association and the Eswatini National Council of Arts and Culture for coming up with a wonderful and unique concept to promote arts and culture in the Kingdom.
“Such collaborations have proven to yield maximum benefits, and we are beginning to see the positive results. We have witnessed great talent and fierce competition, which has left the audience well entertained. It is our belief that this annual festival will continue to grow bigger, attracting more participants and the corporate sector as sponsors of the event,” said Bulunga.
appreciation
He sent special appreciation to the corporate sector, which he said invested a lot into the festival, helping the organisers and by extension, government, to fulfill this very important national mandate of developing the arts and culture sector.
He further thanked all the participants, from soloists to large choirs, for serenading with their wonderful voices and creativity. He added that indeed Eswatini has talent.
“In my eyes, you are all winners today. To the cheerful audience, thank you for the support, cooperation and good conduct, continue to support choral music.
“Adjudicators, your job is always tough, but you are well equipped and I believe that you have made the best decisions, as your integrity cannot be questioned,” said Bulunga.
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