On 6 August, Sing It Acapella kicked off at the Aula and Musaion theatres. This annual competition focuses on acapella music and the incorporation of non-electrical instruments, and it is open to UP residences, day houses, and faculties.
The event appeared to be exclusive as there was minimal publicity, unlike the familiar Step It UP. The advertisements appeared seemingly by chance, raising concerns about the accessibility of the event. Those not affiliated with a residence or day house might have remained unaware of the event entirely.
However, those that did participate, such as residences, felt very strongly about the event. Some even performed before the prelims for their fellow residents, such as House Nala, which partnered with Invicta and called themselves “Navicta”. They showcased what they had been preparing for the past three to four months, as surely many other groups, like House Mopane, had done as well.
According to the UP Student Culture (STUKU) webpage, the main purpose behind the event is to highlight the multiculturalism of the university as well as students’ musical talent. They believe it is an important opportunity to participate in a “cultural event of a high standard”. The teams were expected to perform popular songs in acapella style for a maximum of 17 minutes. Many performers used non-electrical instruments such as drums.
Preliminary rounds
Teams performed at the prelims on 6 and 7 August, where the top teams were picked to compete in the finals. As the host stated, it was the “ultimate clash of vocals”. These performers included Braksters (the Tower and House Khutso), House Mags, House Erica, EBIT House, Vidividus, Madelief, House Mopane, and Navicta.
It was an impressive event, with a fantastic sound system, videographers/photographers and multiple screens displaying the performers’ name, title and songs. House Mags delivered a captivating performance of “The Muses – when the curtain falls”, gracing the stage with their enchanting melodious singing in angelic white gowns. Meanwhile, House Erica delighted everyone with their humorous performance of “Northern Travellers”, filled with clever references to popular culture. All the performances were spectacular and truly displayed each team’s hard work and dedication to the performance.
The judges had an exceptionally hard assignment in choosing the finalists. There were three judges in each event, and the judges for the prelims and finals would be different. The judges’ identities were kept confidential and upon questioning, PDBY was refused identification.
When asked what impact they hope the event will have on the participants and wider university community, Boipelo Madumo, the head of Culture External and Acapella, stated, “For the participants, I just want them to have fun and enjoy it.” And due to their hard work and preparation, it would be important for them to “see their vision come to life” and display “their love of art”.
Finals
The finals were held on 9 August, with a panel of three judges with musical backgrounds deciding the fates of the teams. The teams going into the final were divided into three groups: the Spicy Sugars, consisting of Blossoms Delight, Curelitzia, House Mags, House Ukuthula, and House Mopane; the Crazy Pops, made up of Madelief, Navicta, OPVSC; and Jamba Juice, comprising Erica, Dregeana, College x Nerina, and Vividus. The finals were sold out and the audience was in for a treat.
Prizes were awarded in various categories: for the best prescribed song, Curelitzia won in the Spicy Sugars, Madelief in the Crazy Pops, and College x Nerina in Jamba Juice. The best group performance went to Curelitzia in Spicy Sugars, Madelief in Crazy Pops, and Vividus from Jamba Juice. Curelitzia won best theme, the most creative use of costume went to Blossoms Delight, and the winners of best social media presence were House Mags. Finally, the people’s choice award went to Erica.
For most multicultural, House Mags came first, Curelitzia in second, and Blossoms Delight in third. The best music catalogue winners mirrored this result, while the best vocal performance went to Madelief, with Curelitzia in second and House Mags in third. Curelitzia won best soloist, with Madelief and House Mags taking second and third place respectively. Curelitzia had the best choreography, followed by Blossoms Delight, and Madelief. Finally, Blossoms Delight took best own composition, followed closely by Curelitzia and Erica in second and third. It was a successful and well-rounded event that not only the participants but also the audience enjoyed.
The overall winners:
First: Curelitzia
Second: House Mags
Third: Madelief
Fourth: Blossoms Delight
Fifth: House Ukuthula
