(All the winners with the Playhouse
Board. Pic by Val Adamson)
The Playhouse Company has announced the results of its 10th annual Ingoma Competition which took place on Saturday (March 18, 2023) at eThekwini’s Curries Fountain in Berea, the outdoors venue where it is traditionally held.
The landmark event drew wide public attention as it showcased 42 Zulu dance groups, competing for coveted prizes in seven categories of traditional dance styles: Isigekle; uShameni; Ingoma Yezinsizwa; Ingoma Yezintombi; Ingoma Sikhuze; Indlamu; and Umzansi.
Ms Lynda Bukhosini, Playhouse Company Chief Executive & Artistic Director, presented prizes to the leaders of each group of competitors accompanied by Chairperson of The Playhouse Company Council, Ms Khwezi Kunene. Ms Bukhosini said “We salute the dancers for their dedication to honour this tradition by putting in untold hours of practice. This showed throughout the day, as they demonstrated precision and passion in carrying out their routines”.
The top three winners in each category were as follows:
Isigekle; Asakhe 1. (uMgungundlovu-Kwamafunze); 2.Omama Boxolo (eThekwini - Ngonweni); 3.Shosholoza (uMgungundlovu - KwaGezibuso);
uShameni; 1. Shanela (uThukela - Wembezi); 2. iZinyoni Zomhlanga (uThukela - Weenen); 3. uThulilwezinyathi (Zululand - Ulundi);
Ingoma Yezinsizwa: 1.Ezasendlunkulu (uMgugundlovu-KwaMafunze); 2. Abafana bembube (uMgugundlovu - Mbali); 3. Ofeleba (uMgugundlovu - KwaMafunze);
Ingoma Yezintombi: 1. iZigi Zomdabu (uMgugundlovu-Mbali); 2. Oqhawekazi (KwaMashu); 3. Izintombi Zosizo (Amajuba - Osizweni).
Ingoma Sikhuze:1. iNdlondlo Emnyama (eThekwini - Mangamazini); 2. iNgoma yaka-Shozi (Umbumbulu - Madundube); 3.Ifu Elimnyama (eThekwini -KwaMakhutha);
Indlamu: 1. Osizweni Theatre Production (Amajuba - Osizweni); 2. iNgqayizivele (Amajuba - Madadeni); 3. iFisokuhle (uMzinyathi - Nondweni);
Umzansi: 1. uMthambo Wendlovu (uThukela-eMangweni); 2. Nkonka Obomvu (KwaMashu Hostel); 3. Isibani Productions (eThekwini V-Umlazi).