MBABANE – The Tiro Mpane Foundation National Choral Eisteddfod (TMF-NCE) Finals concluded with Eswatini’s choirs securing first positions.
The two-day musical showdown held in Sun City Super Bowl, South Africa, this past weekend, December 20 to 21, drew 35 of the finest choirs from across South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Zimbabwe and Eswatini.
Competing in the Standard Category, Pure Voices delivered a slendid performance. The ensemble, led by the astute direction of their Conductor Gabazi Nxumalo, navigated the technical minefield of the Western prescribed piece.
Their African piece rendition of ‘Kusekhaya La,’ written by local composer Melisizwe Zwane, was sung well by the choir. Nxumalo, the conductor, shared that their overall mark was 88.62.
“This win means a lot us. This is proof that indeed hardwork, determination, discipline, focus and prayer pays. We thank God Almighty who is our provider and pillar of strength,” he said.
Nxumalo elaborated that this is their third win this year.
“It was a very tough competition. The standard was high and the marks are indeed a true reflection of the performances by all the choirs,” he said.
His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Choir provided the sheer, disciplined force that has made them a household name in Southern African music. Competing in the elite ‘Great Champ of Champs’ category, the uniformed choristers proved why they remain the benchmark for vocal excellence.
Under the baton of the celebrated maestro Zwane, the choir’s performance was characterised by deep, grounded bass lines supporting soaring, controlled sopranos.
In an interview with Zwane, he mentioned that their overall mark was 93.39 and expressed his excitement stating: “It is the biggest competition in the SADC region, the highest category in the competition.
“The choir is now at the top of the whole region. It is a huge victory for the country, the first choir to win a Champ of Champs award. It is history being written and we are happy to have achieved such a feat” he said
The choir has won quadruple this year, including Standard Bank Choral Music Competition Ntjilo Ntjilo, TMF-NCE Regional eliminations and the Great Champs Category in the finals, securing first positions in all the competitions.
“The competition was very tough. There were some great choirs and performances. But we managed in the end to come out tops,” he said.
The double victory for Eswatini choirs signals a shift in the regional Choral hierarchy. While South African choirs from Gauteng and the Western Cape have traditionally dominated such platforms, the results from Sun City suggest that the Kingdom of Eswatini is currently producing some of the most refined Choral art on the continent.
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