Music lovers congregate at St Bens
Music lovers danced to the beats of marimba and steelpan.
Pupils and music lovers from across southern Africa converged at the St Benedict’s College for Boys for the Education Africa International Marimba and Steelpan Festival last weekend.
Education Africa’s production director, Ms Linda Gould, said more than 1 600 pupils from 75 institutions participated in the two-day festival.
“We had classical, pop music and proudly South African music. Schools from all over South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland and Nigeria came with their flavour to marimba and steelpan music playing,” she said.
“This festival is imparting an important life skill, music making, and its sharing. We are sharing space and love. Music is ultimately about sharing and giving love to people with you and around you,” said award winning musician, Ms Sbongile Khumalo.
Ms Rachel Chigwanda, from the Zimbabwe College of Music, said the festival was much-needed by her pupils.
“We had some great exposure, performing in front of such a big audience. That gave confidence. We are not used to it. It also gave us the opportunity to weigh ourselves in terms of our performance,” she said.
