THE Mandela Bay Arts Festival is inviting young performers between the ages of 15 and 21 to take centre stage in the highly anticipated Simangalise: ‘Igwijo Edition’ Competition.
This new and exciting element of the festival serves as a vibrant platform for aspiring artists in Nelson Mandela Bay, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their talents in a live performance setting. The event will culminate in a thrilling play-off at the Mendi Arts Centre on Monday, February 24, featuring a special appearance by the celebrated a capella group, The Soil.
Applications for the competition are now open, and interested participants have until 20:00 on February 7 to submit their entries online. To take part, groups consisting of five to twenty members must submit a two-minute video displaying their performance skills, accompanied by a brief description of their group. This initial submission will serve as a preliminary audition, allowing judges to select the most promising acts for the live competition.
Successful applicants will be notified by February 14 and invited to prepare for their live performance at the Mendi Arts Centre. Each group must present a song of no more than three minutes in length, and performances can be in any language. The competition promises to be a thrilling showcase of local talent, with groups competing for top honours and cash prizes. The first-place winners will receive R5 000, second place will be awarded R3 000, and third place will take home R2 000.
Nobesuthu Rayi, Partnerships and Stakeholder Manager for the Mandela Bay Arts Festival, expressed enthusiasm about the competition, emphasising its significance for young artists. “This competition provides a valuable platform for young people to showcase their talents and gain essential experience in the performing arts. We encourage all talented youth in Nelson Mandela Bay to seize this opportunity and be part of an incredible celebration of local creativity.”
For more details and to access the application form, interested participants can visit the Mandela Bay Arts Festival’s official social media pages. Follow them on Instagram at @mandelabayartsfest and on Facebook at @MandelaBayArtsFestival.
Additionally, festival attendees can explore the full programme and book tickets by visiting www.mbaf.co.za.
