STUKU, a student organisation dedicated to showcasing the cultural side of UP, curates multiple cultural events throughout the year, giving students the opportunity to put their talents on full display. Whether you are looking for some local entertainment or crave the spotlight for yourself, you should take a look at what STUKU has in store for us throughout the year.
1NSYNC
Also known as O-Week’s main event and the introduction to UP culture, 1NSYNC showcases first-years that participate in a singing and dancing competition on behalf of their student houses. Although incoming students may loathe the fact that participation is mandatory, testimonies of past participants may prove that this is something to look forward to. Onkabetse Makgobane, a third-year Medicine student, said, “You’ve never really done something like this before… you should open yourself [up] to having that new experience. You can just give the practices a try. Even if you find a little bit of joy in those practices, you should hold on to that because that means that the performance is going to be even better than what you could have ever imagined.”
Makgobane reminisces on the bonds created through her participation in 1NSYNC, citing the competition as a large contributor to the friendships she had formed at her residence and at UP. “It was the friendship aspect that I liked the most. It was a nice opportunity to learn about people I want to be friends with.”
Step It Up
Similar to 1NSYNC, Step It Up is a mid-semester singing and dancing competition open to all students in residences, faculty houses, and other student structures. Makgobane, who participated in Step It Up in 2024 and 2025, shared what attracted her to the competition in her first year, saying, “Step It Up [was] a chance to get to know your seniors in your res. It’s also a chance to get to know [your HCs] as people and not just see them as this HC figure. I think that’s what made me interested in doing it, to get to see more people in the house and to become more integrated in the house.”
Makgobane notes that there is a stark difference in intensity between 1NSYNC and Step It Up, “The passion was different… now you’re with people that have stayed there for two or three years, [and] they have this passion for [the structure]. That type of passion is inspirational, it excites you.” Later, she said, “The practicing, the amount of practicing we did… it’s way more competitive than 1NSYNC was. If your res wins Step It Up, it’s a big deal, so it was a bit more intense.”
Sing It Acapella
Another competition between student structures, Sing It Acapella gives UP’s vocalists an opportunity to show off their incredible talents. PDBY spoke with Atamelang Molekoa, a third-year Law student who participated in Acapella for Invicta in 2024 and 2025. When comparing Acapella to his time participating in Step It Up and 1NSYNC, Molekoa found Acapella to be easier out of the three, saying, “You’re there because you want to be. People want to sing, and things come together relatively quickly. Acapella is definitely the most comfortable to do out of the three.” Although Molekoa had prior experience in culture before attending UP, he adds that first-years who lack experience should not hesitate to participate in acapella. “There’s nothing wrong with trying something new, you never know what you might get out of it.”
UP’s Got Talent
UP’s Got Talent is a variety show full of student talent and is open to musicians, comedians, dancers, and many more. PDBY interviewed Faneriwile Chawane, a third-year Information Science student who participated last year. Chawane highlighted the independence that participants have when preparing for the competition, saying, “In terms of preparation, that’s really just up to you, the organisation doesn’t really do much to prepare you, which is not their responsibility.”
Chawane further speaks on the differences between the above events and UP’s Got Talent, saying, “In a group setting where people’s capabilities differ, everyone needs to get to the same level. For example, people [who] are not that musically inclined find it more difficult to prepare than people who are musically inclined, and that does pull back people who are musically inclined. So preparing for anything in a group setting is a lot more challenging than preparing for something by yourself.”
Cultural events provide students with much-needed breaks from the woes of academic life, and they provide opportunities for growth and self-discovery. Lethokuhle Ndlovu, STUKU’s External Culture Head, shared this sentiment, saying, “These events show first-years that UP is about more than just academics, it’s about growing, creating, and having a blast with your peers.”
Visual: Gabriella le Roux
