Ntuli working hard to take iscathamiya to next level
Singer and composer hosts workshops at schools
Chris Ntuli who has been hosting scathamiya workshops in high schools around KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape for years wants to preserve the genre.
Ntuli is a founding member of Durban Black Drifters, a scathamiya group that has performed in Belgium, Norway and the US.
The Drifters have also appeared in a Broadway musical Hurricane Katrina, written by American playwright Ermill Thrower, and dedicated to the flood victims of New Orleans in 2004.
The 60-year-old Ntuli started doing school workshops in 1992 with an aim to promote and preserve cothoza music in schools. The idea grew into a competition and in 2000 he hosted his first high school scathamiya contest which was supported by Caltex.
Ntuli will once again bring together different high school scathamiya choirs today at Playhouse in Durban to Compete for a R20,000 cash prize money. Last year’s edition of the competition was cancelled due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic.
“The initiative began with 60 high school choirs. Through the project we strived to shape and guide these young men and women to be better citizens.
Through the music and workshops we are instilling respect, reliability, efficiency, self-reliant and we encourage the upholding of the culture when they leave school. We don’t want perpetrators of gender-based violence.”
Ntuli adds: “I’m relieved that we are finally hosting the event. We decided to bring 20 choirs this year because of the Covid-19 regulations.
“The choirs from Durban townships and surrounding areas will compete in the vibrant, energetic and youthbased music competition.
“We have cash prizes, trophies, certificates and giveaways. The event aims to preserve, promote and develop isicathamiya at grassroot level.”
The legendary singer and music composer says since the idea started 21 years ago and he has seen growth in the genre with many groups coming out of different communities.
The High School Scathamiya competition has produced artists such as Ngcolosi Home Boys from Botha’s Hill, Abafana Basentembeni from Melmoth, Mpumalanga White Birds from Hammarsdale, and Uglama kaMaskandi from Pietermaritzburg.
“I have seen growth in the love and passion for the genre that is why it is growing. More young people love it as you can see scathamiya competitions are held every weekend in different places. The way it is becoming popular I see a potential for international growth.
“My plan is to make sure that isicathamiya does not die,” he says.
Ntuli, who was born in Nkandla, KwaZulu-Natal, grew up singing in scathamiya choirs. He has been involved in teaching isicathamiya in townships, urban areas and rural schools for many years. He founded Durban Black Drifters in 1993.
Now that the competition is established, Ntuli wants to see it being flighted on TV.
Last year, the schools workshop programme graced the screens of CNN where it was aired for days and was watched by millions in over 200 countries.
Some of the challenges running the scathamiya competitions became sponsors of the contest. After one of his sponsors dumped him years ago, he struggled until Lottery and eThekwini municipality came to his rescue.
Ntuli is now worried about funding but he more concerned that certain individuals want to ride on his success by stealing his concept.
“People have been going around in different departments asking for funding, claiming that they were going to host this competition.
“This is my original concept that grew out of the passion I have for the genre. Now that I have been pushing they just want to take the glory,” he shares.