MBABANE – Pure Voices Choir brought pride to Eswatini after winning a total of E110 000 at the Buang Moloto Music Competition, held at the Rustenburg Civic Centre on October 31.
Impactfully felt across the border, the Eswatini Choral ensemble competed in four distinct categories: Sitibili, Orchestra, Music Theatre and A capella. Their dominant performance across multiple genres secured them top honours and substantial cash prizes.
In the A capella category, Pure Voices secured first place with their powerful rendering of the song ‘Minthiro Yavula Vula’, earning E15 000.
They continued their winning streak in the Folklore/Music Theatre category, where their vibrant performance of the Swati traditional dance Umtsimba took first position, bagging an additional E20 000.
The choir climaxed their impressive run in the Orchestra presentation. Performing ‘Ingubo Yothando’, Pure Voices captured another top spot and earned the main prize of E70 000.
Pure Voices was not the only group representing Eswatini at the international event. The Mbabane Methodist Church Choir and Dolce Harmony Chorus also made the trip. Pure Voices and Mbabane Methodist Church Choir travelled together on Thursday, October 29, while Dolce Harmony Chorus departed on Friday, October 30.
However, Dolce Harmony and Mbabane Methodist Church Choir unfortunately returned home without securing a prize in any category.
Speaking after the victory, an elated Pure Voices conductor, Gabazi Nxumalo, expressed his joy at overcoming stiff competition from top South African choirs and lifting Eswatini’s flag high on an international stage.
“We are excited to have pulled all our strengths together for this competition, it was not easy, but we achieved the best results. It means a lot to us to shine outside the country”, he said.
Despite their massive success, Nxumalo pointed out the ongoing financial challenges faced by the choir. He appealed to stakeholders and private organisations to step forward with financial support for Eswatini talent. “We would also like to request sponsors to assist us as a choir,” he said.
Nxumalo also bagged the Best Conductor award walking away with E5 000.
