By Khanyisile Dlamini
On the evening of 30 November, Makhanda will witness a musical milestone as the Makhanda Kwantu Choir hosts Exodus, a farewell concert set to honour our community and its boundless potential.
For one night, the heart of Makhanda will beat with the resonant voices of Kwantu, calling upon each and every one of us to stand behind this extraordinary choir as they embark on an ambitious journey.
In 2024, Kwantu has made our town proud, performing a beautifully diverse repertoire at the National Arts Festival, earning a Bronze Standard Bank Ovation Award for their deeply moving production The Offering: Songs to Our Forgotten Selves.
The choir performed alongside Standard Bank Young Artist award winner, Zoe Modiga as well as honouring our fallen artists since the pandemic in the production, Izandi Zemilambo Yabo Kuthi.
Recently, the choir went on to secure a championship title in the OR Tambo Choir Festival for the Sarah Baartman district. Now, as they await provincial results, the choir continues to carry the spirit of Makhanda to new heights.
Another significant highlight of their year was The Coalesce Night Experience, an event that brought together artists, musicians, and supporters in a celebration of creative expression and community spirit at the 1820 Settler’s Monument.
The three-part event showcased the choir’s evolution through an exhibition of past works, independent projects by individual choristers, and collaborations with local creative groups.
A documentary screening recounted Kwantu’s inspiring journey, from their early days to national recognition, and a lively after-party closed out the night, honouring the incredible spirit of Makhanda’s artistic community.
But this is only the beginning.
In December, the Kwantu Choir will perform in Johannesburg, joining the renowned artist Msaki at the Sun Bet Arena for Camagu in Symphony and collaborating with the esteemed conductors of Quava Vocal Group and Veni Cantare. And next year, they will represent Makhanda at the Africa Asia Pacific Choir Games, proudly taking our town’s voice to the global stage.
As they prepare for these momentous opportunities, the choir is calling on Makhanda to support Exodus. This farewell concert on 30 November will feature songs from their award-winning production as well as beloved classics from their past performances. It’s a night to honour our town’s artistic achievements and to stand together as Kwantu steps boldly into a new chapter.
This is our moment to invest in the future of Makhanda’s arts and culture. We invite everyone to join us for Exodus, to see our community reflected in every note and every lyric.
For more information, give Kwantu Choir a follow on Instagram or Facebook.
Let us help them continue to spread Makhanda’s legacy across the country and beyond.
Together, we can make sure they carry the pride and support of Makhanda with them, wherever they go.
