"Ndingekafi"(isiXhosa for "Before I die") delves into themes of the human spirit, exploring ideas of mortality, legacy, relationships, spirituality. Through a carefully crafted and curated repertoire the production gives voice to themes from the mystery of birth, flowing through the urgency of self expression, the complexities of loss and failure, to the seeking of renewal and redemption before the last Amen.
The production will touch upon themes including the ceaseless need for belonging, finding home and places to honour and be grounded; the immediacy of time, and aging and the muddled experience of growing up; the eventually loss, death and the ubiquity of love and opportune of redemption; and the importance and power of freedom and self expression.
Ndingekafi gently transports audiences through music and storytelling to examine the universal longing for meaning, the necessity of confronting our own transience, and the celebration of love and hope that persists even in moments of death and loss.
Production Credits
The Makhanda KWANTU Choir
SOPRANOS
Mihlali Sipho-Esihle Mbalentle Mpotulo
Mihlali Ngeju
Wandifadza Makanaka-Ishe Zharare
Yaldah-Cumi Hannah Pieterse
Ma-Aasha Zoey Siyamthemba Hermanus
Aphiwe Melanin Nyengane
Othandwayo Rose Skyla Ntozini
Ululamile Mabunda
Ubukho Siyokwana
ALTOS:
Sibulele Tyanase
Zizipho Ngoqo
Elizabeth Eziko
Dakalo Phidane
Azizipho Ngoqo
Siyamthanda Stamper
Akhanyile Dial
Hlomlokuhle Mvubu
TENORS
Zukhanye Stassia Nyeka
Loyiso Mconi
Thamsanqa Ngidi
Liyema Kalypso Gacula
Katlego Magabane
Siyazamkela Nyeka
Mfuneko Albany
Sokhana Moyikwa
BASSES
Junaid Douglas
Mbasa Mconi
Phumelela Tsili
Moteane Rapodile
Thoriso Sebola
Hlomla Ncula
Yanga Mzizi
TRAINING CONDUCTORS:
Loyiso Nyoko
Ambesa Cagwe
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR:
Kutlwano Kepadisa
IMAGES BY
Lithemba Nziweni of GeminiVisionZA
About the Artists
The Kwantu Choir
Makhanda KWANTU Choir is a renowned community choir of around 40 diverse singers from Makhanda, South Africa. The Choir prides itself as choral ambassadors of Makhanda. It has represented the town at National and international festivals such as the Choral Celebration Festival, National Arts Festival and the World Choir Games. It is currently under the artistic direction of its founding conductor Kutlwano Kepadisa who is based in Johannesburg and additionally trained and conducted by principally Loyiso Nyoka as well as Ambesa Cagwe who are resident conductors in Makhanda.
Kwantu is a training choir for the Annual Creative City event, “Masicule - Celebrating the voices of Makhanda”. The Choir also serves as a ceremonial choir for many official local, provincial and national events around Makhanda.
The KWANTU Choir has performed at the National Arts Festival since its founding year in 2017. Since then they have released a digital album, a documentary, and music docu-series on the National Arts Festival. The choir has won three Standard Bank Ovation Awards at the National Arts Festival Fringe (in 2019, 2023 and 2024) receiving the Bronze Category Ovation in both 2023 and 2024. They are also recipients of Silver Diploma at the Interkultur World Choir Games (2018).
Kwantu Choir has performed for important dignitaries such as President Ramaphosa and authors J.M Coetzee and Sindiwe Magone and has continuously collaborated with some of South Africa’s most respected artists such as Sibongile Khumalo, Vusi Mahlasela, Zahara, Nomfundo Xaluva, Asakhe Cuntsulana, Dumza Maswana, Mandla Mbothwe, Banda Banda Agency, Buhlebendalo Mda, TRESSOR and many others; and in the past two years collaborated very closely with Msaki and Zoe Modiga in their producing their Standard Bank Young Artist Shows at the 2023 and 2024 National Arts Festival.
- Venue: Amazwi
- Location: Amazwi South African Museum of Literature
- Ticket price: ZAR 120.00
- Programme type: The Fringe
- Genre: Music
- Duration: 65 minutes
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Ages:
ALL AGES
