BY SIPHOSETHU MABUZA
KWA LUSENI – The applause may fade when a choral competition ends, but for composer and Ntjilo Ntjilo Arts Festival director Mathokoza Sibiya, the opportunities created on that stage can last much longer.
Speaking during the Ntjilo Ntjilo Arts Festival at the University of Eswatini’s Kwaluseni Campus, Sibiya said choral competitions should be viewed as more than contests for trophies and recognition. “Choral competitions breed opportunities for performers,” he said.
His point goes beyond the excitement of competition. For performers, stepping onto a stage can mean gaining experience, meeting people in the creative industry and putting their abilities in front of audiences who may not otherwise encounter their work.
Sibiya said choral music is rooted in love and talent, but believes its value can extend into employment and professional opportunities, both within Eswatini and beyond its borders. The festival brought choirs and arts enthusiasts together at UNESWA, creating a lively space where voices, culture and creative expression shared the same stage.
For the participating performers, the experience was not only about how they placed at the end of the competition. It was also about the opportunity to perform, test their abilities and build confidence in front of an audience.
Sibiya also praised the participating choirs and attendees for the discipline and time management they demonstrated during the festival, saying their commitment contributed to the smooth running of the event.
His comments place competitions within a bigger conversation about how Eswatini can create meaningful spaces for its creatives to develop. A choir may walk away without a trophy, but the performance itself can still leave something behind experience, exposure, connections and the confidence to pursue another stage.
That is the opportunity Sibiya sees in choral competitions: not simply deciding who wins, but creating spaces where performers can discover what their talent might become.
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