It is with much excitement and appreciation that the University of Johannesburg‘s Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design, and Architecture (FADA) shares its success at the prestigious KykNET Fiëstas.
Hosted in Cape Town on 7 March, Echoes of Heritage, with compositions by UJ Artist in Residence, Mbuso Ndlovu, performed by UJ Choir was lauded with two awards at the ceremony that recognises exceptional work presented at arts festivals like Suidoosterfees, KKNK, Innibos, Vrystaat Kunstefees, Toyota US Woordfees, and Momentum Beleggings Aardklop.
Echoes of Heritage was nominated in four categories: Best Music Production, Best Original Music, Best Ensemble and Best Festival Production and walked away with Best Music Production and Best Original Music.
“We are immensely proud of UJ Choir and Mbuso Ndlovu for this well-deserved accolade, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to the Vrystaat Arts Festival for providing the University of Johannesburg with this valuable platform to experiment and, of course, the KykNET Fiëstas for its important role and support of the arts and culture industry by recognising stand-out projects presented at local festivals,” says Pieter Jacobs, Head of UJ Arts & Culture.
Echoes of Heritage first premiered at the 2023 Vrystaat Arts Festival in Bloemfontein in 2023, where it won the Vryskitters Award for Best Musical Composition, and subsequently performed at the annual Performance Studies International (PSI) Conference in Auckland Park, Johannesburg in August later that year.
The production highlighted the UJ Choir’s versatile skills, blending traditional sounds with Ndlovu’s unique contemporary approach to African choral music. Through a harmonious fusion of captivating choreography and evocative storytelling, the production illustrated the profound significance of cattle ownership in indigenous African societies.
Drawing from the lyrical beauty of seven distinct South African languages, UJ Choir paid homage to a myriad of traditional South African choral music styles, offering a truly enriching cultural experience.
Echoes of Heritage is also available for streaming on all major digital platforms, including Spotify and Apple Music.
About UJ Choir
The UJ Choir, based at the University of Johannesburg, stands as a beacon of musical excellence. World renowned for its exceptional vocal artistry and unwavering dedication to artistic innovation, the UJ Choir is an emblem of artistic excellence, captivating audiences on both national and global platforms. With a rich history of captivating performances, the choir continues to seamlessly blends tradition and innovation to deliver awe-inspiring musical experiences.
About UJ Arts and Culture
UJ Arts & Culture, a division of the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture (FADA) produces and presents world-class student and professional arts programmes aligned to the UJ vision of an international university of choice, anchored in Africa, dynamically shaping the future. A robust range of arts platforms are offered on all four UJ campuses for students, staff, alumni and the general public to experience and engage with emerging and established Pan-African and international artists drawn from the full spectrum of the arts.
