Malamulele - Choral music should be revived in Limpopo in honour of the late choral music composer, Dr Shalati Joseph Khosa, says Communications Minister Faith Muthambi.
“The Vhembe district was known as the strong hold of choral music during the era of Dr Khosa. Now that we don’t have choral music festivals anymore, (the time has come) … to revive choral music in honour of the late choral music educator and composer, Dr Khosa.
“I will very soon engage the MEC of Arts and Culture in the province, Onica Moloi, to make sure that they revive and re-instate choral music competitions in the province,” she said.
Minister Muthambi was speaking at a Heritage Day celebration aimed at honouring Dr Khosa at his Merwe village outside, Malamulele, in Limpopo on Saturday. The Minister, accompanied by family members, visited Dr Khosa’s grave, where she laid a wreath.
The Minister said choral music festivals and competitions in the province will help to keep Dr Khosa’s legacy alive. “I am happy to hear that one of his children is a choral music composer, but I am now challenging the community of Merwe to start their own community choral music choir,” she said.
Representing the Khosa family, Manase Khosa thanked the Professor Alfred Nevhutanda Development Foundation for organising the event to honour his late brother.
Khosa, who died in 2013, aged 77, was known for his composition, which to date total in excess 300 songs for schools, church and adult choirs.
Some of his popular songs are matimba ya vuhimbeleri, in praise of brotherly love, Limpopo, mintirho ya vulavula.
In South Africa, September marks the annual Heritage Month and it is used to celebrate and promote the varied cultural heritage of the nation.
This year marks 20 years since Heritage Day was created in 1996. The day is commemorated under the theme, “Celebrating our Human Treasures by Asserting our African Identity”. - SAnews.gov.za
