Mhlahlo at the National Choir Festival Gala Dinner
9 December 2006.
Programme Director
Members of the Executive Council
Members of the District Council
Old Mutual ad Transnet representatives
Management Committee of the National Choir Festival
National adjudicators
Distinguished guests
Ladies and gentlemen
It is with great pleasure that I host this Gala tonight. Choral music has
always been a source of nourishment and part of the fabric of the South African
society. On the opening of the Eastern Cape Music Studio in East London this
year the Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Pallo Jordan, said, "South Africa's
history is embedded in music. Our music has portrayed our changing
socio-political situations."
Indeed choral music remains one of the distinctive talents that Black people
have employed to distinguish themselves as a people. This is reinforced by the
Sunday Times of 3 December 2006 when it said, "South Africans have a
distinctive sound, a blend of the soprano, alto, tenor and bass (SATB) standard
and a strong element of traditional harmony". Music has been our solace against
oppression, encompassing a dream for a better life. It has carried our
expressions of anger, love, betrayal and culture. And it has captured our
politics when the black ink of censorship and oppressive legislation rid us of
words to speak.
A brief history of choral music in the Eastern Cape
Xhosa choral composer Ben Tyamzashe first heard the violin played by Malays
in Kimberley and recalled exuberant music and vibrant rhythms emanating from
the gambling dens, saloons and dance halls as well as Malay singing from the
mosques of the city during the 1890s. The Virginia Jubilee singers performed in
places such as Grahamstown, Lovedale College in Alice and King Williamstown in
the 1890s. Their visit to the Eastern Cape influenced the rich choral
traditions of the Eastern Cape with the introduction of new African American
harmonic concepts.
We have continued that tradition up to now. If anything we have been in the
forefront of this genre of music. Choirs like the Matthew Singers have won
numerous choral music competitions and carried the flag of the province. The
Joy of Africa is a case in point for winning the Large Category in 2006. Other
choirs like the South African Port Operations Port Elizabeth choir have been
supported by Transnet and appeared in the Sunday paper on the 3 December
2006.
Benefits of this august event in the Eastern Cape
I regard this event as part of poverty alleviation, as a winning choir will
win a good sum of money. As a pro poor government we need to show our
commitment to our people by bringing them such events so that they will not
have to spend a lot of money going to Johannesburg to watch their own people
performing. This event will raise the standards of the choral music in our
province.
I want to thank the organisers for bringing the National Choir Festival to
our province. I want also to thank Old Mutual and Telkom who have proposed that
the Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture be part and parcel of
the event. May you continue to support ad sponsor this beautiful event. May I
also thank our Department of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture and
Management Committee for working hard so that this event will be a success.
I wish this event all the best. May choral music reverberate and continue to
fight for our culture and spread the news of peace and prosperity.
I thank you.
Issued by: Office of the Premier, Eastern Cape Provincial Government
9 December 2006
Source: Eastern Cape Provincial Government (http://www.ecprov.gov.za)
