Invitation to Free State clap and tap competitions
The Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation will host Clap and Tap Choral Competitions as part of its programme to promote choral music in the province. This is one of the most popular music genres that have been marginalized in the music sector and plays a vital role in fostering social cohesion by spreading messages of hope and unity in our communities. The choirs that will participate in this competition are acapella groups commonly known as Clap and Tap ensembles, originating from African indigenous apostolic denominations.
The competition started early in May 2016 with local knock outs which were followed by district knockouts. The final leg of the competition will be at the provincial level where all winners from the districts will be competing.
The competition will be as follows:
Date: 28 August 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 9h00
Venue: Phomolong Primary School (Kroonstad).
The total number of Clap and Tap choirs to participate is 25 choirs from 04 districts and 1 Metro. The Department has noted that choirs host independent regular concerts with no financial or in-kind support from established bodies, to revive and keep the genre alive within our community by generating very little income to sustain themselves.
Most of them are composed with more than twenty members in the group and the critical challenge is development and empowerment for sustainability that will enable them to participate in the main stream as well as generating sustainable income. Thus the Department took a decision to revive this genre and support it financially.
There are prize monies to be won from local to district and provincial level in order for choirs to be able to sustain themselves.
Local prizes:
1st position R 3000.00
2nd position R 2000.00
3rd position R 1000.00
District prizes:
1st position R 10 000.00
2nd position R 5 000.00
3rd position R 2 500.00
4th position R 1 500.00
5th position R 1 000.00
Provincial prizes:
1st position R 50 000.00
2nd position R 25 000.00
3rd position R 15 0000.00
4th position R 10 000.00
5th position R 5 000.00
Speaking about the staging of these competitions MEC N.S. Leeto said, “The passion and support for this genre is overwhelming within various communities from rural to urban areas. Most of these Free State choirs do not enjoy fair exposure in both radio and television leaving them unmotivated and not reaching more audience like other genre which results in demoralizing them to sustain the genre. By hosting these competitions we intend to elevate this specific genre of music.”
Enquiries:
Tankiso Zola
Director: Communication and IT
Cell: 082 940 2392
Tel: 051 – 4104742/4786/4735
Email: tankiso@sacr.fs.gov.za
