Applied Ethnomusicology Students Present Heritage Month Concert

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Two honours students from the Public Sector Applied Ethnomusicology and Community Development module in the Music Discipline recently presented a lunch-hour concert at the Howard College Theatre based on their respective research fieldwork.                                

In their respective research projects, the students, Ms Thabile Buthelezi and Ms Nontobeko Sibiya, looked at the Royal Reed Dance ceremony in Swaziland and Nongoma and the shifting role of Zion music in different settings such as academic institutions, churches and the entertainment industry.

The students worked together to produce an edu-concert to coincide with Heritage Month, bringing culture and heritage to life through their selected dance and musical performances, which included a cultural parade from the E G Malherbe Library to the Howard College Theatre.

‘The parade was an interpretation of the Reed Dance ceremony in Swaziland and Nongoma when maidens proceed to hand over the reeds to the king, and in celebration they dance and sing on their way to the arena. The Reed Dance encourages young girls not to engage in sexual activities while also teaching them to respect themselves and be leaders of their homestead,’ said Buthelezi.

Through her performance action research, Buthelezi hopes to encourage young girls to participate in the cultural initiative and to educate others on the procedures, culture and beauty of the Reed Dance ceremony.

Her showcase featured songs and dances derived from the royal festival Amahubo Omkhosi Womhlanga with a special interpretation of the dance done by Swaziland’s Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini.

An exciting adaptation of Zion music was also showcased with singers hailing from the Association for Tertiary Zion Students (ATEZ) performing repertoires from their CD. A singing arrangement was performed on stage to illustrate the differences between Zion and Gospel music.

Both students thanked their teams of dancers and performers along with the School of Arts and Dr Patricia Opondo of the Music Discipline.

Melissa Mungroo