MBABANE – Nine choirs from Eswatini are eagerly preparing for the upcoming Tiro Mpane Foundation National Choral Eisteddfod regional eliminations.
The Eswatini regional eliminations which will be held at Esibayeni Lodge on October 12, 2025 will see both standard and large Choral choirs fighting for a first position in the finals to be held in December in Rustenburg, South Africa. The event is a significant platform for Eswatini’s Choral community, offering a chance to compete against some of the region’s best talent.
This year’s competition has sparked some controversy, as the Tiro Mpane Foundation’s inclusive rules, which allow non-Eswatini choristers to compete, in contrast with the Ntjilo-Ntjilo Arts Festival’s strict Eswatini-only policy. For years, these two Choral fraternities were in partnership; choirs that had scooped position one during the Ntjilo-Ntjilo Arts Festival were set to go straight to the Tiro Mpane competition.
The participating choirs in the eliminations include His Majesty’s Correctional Services Choir, Manzini Choir, Dolce Harmony Chorus, Mbabane Methodist Church Choir, Royal Eswatini Police Choir in the large category and in the standard category are Sweet Sounds, Pure Voices, Florence Catholic Church Choir and Emmanuel Methodist Choir who are focused on showcasing their musical prowess during the eliminations.
“The winning choirs from the regional eliminations will earn a spot in the national finals,” said Mlungisi Dlamini, the Public Relations Officer of the Eswatini National Choral Music Association.
He said that local choirs will be competing for a spot in the finals of Tiro Mpane in which proposed dates are December 20 to 21 in Sun City, Rustenburg.
“In large choirs, top five choirs from 15 choirs from all the provinces will form a category called ‘Great Champ of Champs’. Last year, His Majesty’s Correctional Services Choir was among the great champ of champs and they scoop position two,” he said.
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