DSRAC TO HOST THE ANNUAL UMZILA KATAMBO RACE AND CHORAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
The Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC) will host the Annual Umzila kaTambo Race and 21st edition of O.R Tambo Choral Music Festival in Mbizana and East London respectively on 26 October 2024.
The Annual Umzila kaTambo Race in Mbizana traces the footsteps of the icon’s birthplace and creates space for athletes from all over Africa to participate and celebrate his life and legacy through sport. Culture and sport are integrated to serve as platforms to promote unity, reconciliation, peace, nation building and social cohesion.
In the same vein of celebrating the life and legacy of O.R Tambo, choirs will battle for the number one spot at O.R Tambo Choral Music Festival. The music festival forms part of the department’s plan to develop choral music in the province.
The festival, which has been named after the country’s struggle stalwart, Oliver Reginald Tambo is aimed at preserving his legacy. Tambo’s love for choral music is well documented as he was a song writer, a choir conductor and member of the St Peters’ Junior Secondary school choir during his schooling years.
The choirs that will participate include Matthews Singers and Butterworth Services Choir. These choirs have lifted the Eastern Cape Choral Music flag high and have won prestigious awards and prizes on National stages.
The department is driving this festival in partnership with the two Music Associations of the province, namely Guild of Choral Indigenous Music Practitioners in Eastern Cape (GCIMP-EC) and Eastern Cape Choral Music Association (ECCMA).
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