(Chris Ntuli, leader of Durban Black Drifters and founder of the competition)The ground-breaking isicathamiya group, Durban Black Drifters, started taking isicathamiya workshops to the schools about 15 years ago on the advice of artSMart editor, Caroline Smart.
Under the highly energetic leadership of Chris Ntuli, this group has remained consistently pro-active both at home in South Africa and abroad. They regularly perform in the US and have lately undertaken tours to Europe. At each school they visited, they set in place an in-house isicathamiya group. As the workshop programme grew, these groups became forces to be reckoned with. Thus was born the idea of holding an annual competition.
Sponsored by Caltex Oil, the very first sponsors of Durban Black Drifters’ schools workshop programme, the 11th event Caltex Isicathamiya High School Competition carries a cash prize as well as a computer and trophies to be won. A total of 55 Isicathamiya school choirs will compete in this year’s youth-based song and dance show.
The Caltex Isicathamiya High School Competition takes place in the Playhouse Opera on May 6 from 10h00 to 17h00.
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