Hout Bay school choirs unite in harmony

A choir festival brought more than 200 young singers from five Hout Bay schools together on Saturday.

Disa Primary School, Kronendal Primary School, Hout Bay International School, Oranjekloof Moravian Primary School and Llandudno Primary School all took part in the Kunye Choir Festival at the Hout Bay Community Centre in Hangberg, performing for about 300 guests, according to Llandudno Primary School principal Alex Molteno.

The event was held to bring together children from diverse backgrounds in celebration of their shared talent and a spirit of unity, he said.

“The word, ‘kunye’, meaning ‘together’ in isiXhosa, perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the festival. Each school delivered captivating performances, ranging from classics like Pata Pata by Miriam Makeba to contemporary hits like Man in the Mirror."

The festival culminated in a joint performance by the Kunye Choir with pupils from all the schools singing This Is Me from The Greatest Showman.

Disa Primary choir teacher Andy Matima said the school had a relatively new choir that had been keen to show what it could do while also using the festival as a learning opportunity.

“Through weekly practice, the choir has managed to build upon their repertoire. Pata pata is always a crowd-pleaser, and it gets the choristers to move,” he said.

“We believe this festival marks a significant moment for Hout Bay, demonstrating how music and education can bridge communities and foster unity.”

Kronendal Primary School, Hout Bay International School and Oranjekloof Moravian Primary School did not respond to requests for comment by time of publication.