Ludumo a humble legend
Ludumo Magangane was honoured at the Springs Civic Centre on Saturday for his contribution to choral music locally, nationally and abroad.
Friends, students, fellow adjucators and conductors came from all over to honour their friend and tutor.
He was accompanied by his wife Dudu Magangane, daughters Phumba Zondo, Pahtiswa and Yolishwa Magangane and sons, Luyolo and Malizo Magangane.
The music of the Bonisudumo choristers, in between speeches, was breath-taking and the guests all sang along.
Several speakers mentioned Ludumo’s passion for his work is contagious to the people around him.
His love and passion for choral music as well as his leadership were praised.
“He is a legend and has put KwaThema on the map because of his contribution to choral music,” says Ndlumiso Mnguni, a New State Area resident.
One of Ludumo’s friends, Vuma Dumakudi, said they were adjudicators for the Transnet Choir for three years, held music workshops together and were adjudicators for several choir competitions.
Meisie Nkosi, the spokesperson for the Bunisudumo choristers, said Ludumo is a goal-orientated individual who always looks for the ‘can do’ and not the ‘cannot be done’ in every situation.
Everyone agreed that he is a sincere and humble man, who criticises the wrong action and not the person.
He trained a lot of youngsters who are currently musicians and Charles Lesia was one of them.
Charles said Ludumo did not only have a huge impact on their lives, but also on the relationship between them and their parents.
A famous Ludumo quote from their teaching years is still relevant today “count your blessings, count them one by one”.
Ludumo accepted his awards with his wife Dudu from Makhusazana Maluleke, the MMC of Health and Social development.
The three awards he received were from RYT Culture on behalf of the community, an Ekurhuleni award honouring and acknowledging his contribution to the choral music industry and another award from the KwaThema Central Methodist Church.
With so many memories and so little time, the evening ended with Ludumo conducting the choir in a worshipping song, Hallelujah.
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He was a music student in 1997 at the University of Zululand when he decided to start a choir in his home town KwaThema.
He taught music theory as a community project to the members of the KwaThema Youth Choir and community members from 1982.
This choir made a series of recordings entitled ‘Pop goes Choral’ for the then Unqambothi choral music programme.
Bonisudomo choristers and the KwaThema Youth Choir were the first to record choral items that were accompanied by an orchestra, Muse Africa Muse Orchestral Promotions, for the Unqmatho choral music programme.
He has toured the world and adjudicates at the World Choir Games which is held every fourth year in a different country.
