CAPE TOWN–A young singer from Philippi is looking forward to making her mark on the global stage and showcasing her singing talents.
Esona Thwalintini is a Grade 11 learner at Christel House South Africa and recently achieved second place at the Namaste Desi Star singing competition which was held in Johannesburg.
Namaste Desi Star is a singing competition showcasing a tapestry of Indian Music and its diversity to embrace humanity by blending in with South Africa creating a culture of uniqueness and Ubuntu.
Christel House South Africa supports learners from disadvantaged communities, starting from Grade RR to Grade 12 and up to five years post-matric.
Since joining Christel House in Grade R, she has been part of the school’s traditional choir and is currently a member of the High School Jazz Band. Her love for singing has seen her enter several competitions.
“This unique Desi fusion competition required participants to blend traditional isiXhosa or English songs with Desi music. Esona received guidance from the competition’s coaches while also being supported every step of the way by her mom, who encouraged her to take part,” explains school spokesperson Megan Losper.
The trip also marked Esona’s first time travelling overseas.
Thwalintini says that despite the crime, poverty, and violence she sees in her township becoming a part of daily life, music was the one place where she could escape the chaos and pain.
“I discovered my passion for music at a young age when I realized that singing was the only way I could truly express myself. I would sing through the struggles and the loneliness, and it gave me strength. Music doesn’t really run in my family, it’s more like something I was drawn to because I needed it. Where I come from, very few people get to chase their dreams,” she says.
What inspired her to continue honing her craft as a singer was the pain she experienced after seeing friends lost to crime.
“I saw families broken by poverty, and dreams crushed by circumstances but I still performed at community events, competitions, school concerts, and small local gatherings,” she recalled.
“Achieving second place in the singing competition meant a lot to me because it was the first time I felt truly seen, like my voice mattered beyond the township and also to get a chance to make my parents proud.”
The greatest challenge she battled with was overcoming peer pressure.
“My dream is to inspire others from townships like mine and take my music to a bigger stage. Every song I sing carries both struggle and hope. I want people to believe that no matter where you come from, you can rise above it.”
Christel House principal and Chief Academic Officer Dr Ronald Fortune says he is immensely proud of Thwalintini. “We celebrate not only academic excellence, but also the dreams, talents, and determination of our (learners). One such inspiring story is that of Thwalintini, who has risen to the finals of the Namaste Desi Star competition in Johannesburg. Her journey has been anything but easy. With every challenge she faced, she responded with resilience; with every obstacle, she leaned on the support of her loved ones and her school community; and with every performance, she sang not only with her voice, but with her heart. Her voice carries the hopes of many, and her story echoes the truth that with commitment, courage, and community, greatness is possible.”
