Festival of note to honour Madiba

ABOUT 450 Stellenbosch and Franschhoek primary school pupils celebrated late statesman Nelson Mandela’s centenary in a festival of song.

Pupils from 21 Stellenbosch and Franschhoek primary schools gathered in the Coetzenburg Centre recently for the annual e’Bosch School Choir Festival, and were accompanied by the Stellenbosch University Wind Band under the baton of Pamela Kierman.

The pupils sang, among others, Song for Mandela together with soloist Terence Petersen.

Festival project manager, Tarnia van Zitters, was beaming with the success of the event.

“We are very happy for a successful event and the fact that we could celebrate the Nelson Mandela Centenary. We also thank the Stellenbosch University Wind Band and their conductor Pamela Kierman which accompanied the mass choir as well as Terence Petersen the soloist in the Song For Mandela,” said Van Zitters.

The 21 primary schools which took part were AF Louw, Cloetesville, Devon Valley, Pieter Langeveld, Rietenbosch, St Idas, Dalabuhle, Groendal, West Eind, Bridge House, JJ Rhode, St Vincent RC, Klapmuts, Vlottenburg, Raithby, Weber Gedenk, Dorothea Special Needs, Nondzame, Pniel, PC Petersen and Simondium.

It was the seventh consecutive year that the flagship event of the e’Bosch Heritage Project had been hosted.

A second e’Bosch Secondary School Choir Festival will be held on September 19 at the Stellenbosch Town Hall at 7pm.

“The Stellenbosch e’Bosch Heritage Project is one of the most unique movements of its kind in the country and will host at least 30 events this year, mainly during the month of September.

“Almost all the neighbourhoods of the district participate in this celebration of different cultures and heritages.

“These include Cloetesville, Devon Valley, Ida’s Valley, Jamestown, Kayamandi, Klapmuts, Kylemore, Lanquedoc, Pniel, Raithby, Stellenbosch Central and the farm communities,” the organisers said.

Visit www.ebosch.co.za/ programme for more upcoming events in the annual e’Bosch Heritage Festival during September.

Pictures: Lisa Penderis Photography SMALL BODIES, BIG VOICES: Pupils from 21 Stellenbosch and Franschhoek primary schools gathered on Saturday in the Coetzenburg Centre to celebrate the Madiba centenary.

SONGBIRDS: This is the seventh consecutive year the e’Bosch Heritage Project is being held where primary and high schools from Stellenbosch and Franschhoek and surrounds participated.