The Nations in One Voice Concert brought together school communities from Eswatini and South Africa in a celebration of choral music, cultural exchange and friendship at St. Theresa’s High School in Manzini.
The concert featured the Vulamasango School Choir and Edendale Technical High School Choir from Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, with the two choirs sharing the stage as part of a collaboration aimed at creating connections through music.
The event drew school administrators, parents, students, choral music enthusiasts and officials, including His Majesty’s Correctional Services (HMCS) Commissioner Phindile Glory Sibandze, who represented Commissioner General LaMakhosini Phindile Dlamini.
Senior HMCS officers were also present, alongside former HMCS Commissioner Mnguni Simelane and former Vulamasango School Principal Dan Mavuso, who attended in support of the school and its choir.
Welcoming guests on behalf of the Officer-in-Charge, Senior Superintendent Mandla Sibiya, Vulamasango High School Principal Assistant Superintendent Ngabisa Dlamini expressed appreciation to St. Theresa’s High School for providing the venue for the concert.
Dlamini also acknowledged the continued support of the office of the Commissioner General, including the permission granted for the event to take place.
She recognised the leadership of Edendale Technical High School for initiating the collaboration, saying the partnership created an opportunity for the two schools to share their musical experiences and build a relationship that could continue beyond the concert.
The hope, she said, was that the collaboration would lead to further joint concerts and cultural exchanges between the schools.
Dlamini also acknowledged the continued support of former HMCS Commissioner Mnguni Simelane for VulamasangoSchool activities, describing his presence at the concert as an encouragement to the school community.
Representing Edendale Technical High School, Head of the Humanities Department Sisanda Mkhwanazi spoke about the development of the school’s choir, which was established only two years ago.
Despite being relatively young, the choir has developed into an active cultural project at the school, with Mkhwanazi highlighting its musical discipline, stage confidence and progress since its formation.
The choir’s participation in the Nations in One Voice Concert provided an opportunity for its members to perform outside their home environment while meeting fellow young musicians from Eswatini.
For Vulamasango School, choral music has become an established part of its school culture. The choir has participated in Eswatini’s schools choral music competitions, earning accolades for its performances and contributing to the development of young singers.
Its participation in the concert added an international dimension to that experience, giving the singers an opportunity to perform alongside a South African school choir while sharing the stage with students who have developed within a different school environment.
Beyond the performances, the concert provided a platform for cultural exchange between the two institutions.
The collaboration brought together students, teachers, parents and supporters from both schools, allowing the event to become more than a showcase of vocal ability.
It created a space where the participating schools could establish relationships through a shared interest in music.
For the students, the interaction also provided exposure to another school choir and its approach to choral performance. Such exchanges allow young performers to experience different styles, interpretations and approaches to preparing for the stage.
The presence of school administrators and former education and correctional services officials further reflected the support surrounding Vulamasango’s participation in the choral programme.
The Nations in One Voice Concert comes at a time when school choirs continue to provide young people with opportunities to develop musical ability, discipline and confidence through organised performance.
Choral music also creates opportunities for schools to connect beyond their immediate communities. In this case, the relationship between Vulamasango and Edendale Technical High School extends across the Eswatini-South Africa border, with the concert providing a starting point for further engagement.
The organisers also expressed appreciation to the individuals and institutions that contributed towards making the event possible, including the leadership of both schools and St. Theresa’s High School for hosting the concert.
As the two choirs took to the stage, the focus remained on the music and the young performers at the centre of the collaboration.
For Vulamasango School, the concert added another chapter to its choral journey. For Edendale Technical High School, it offered another opportunity for a relatively young choir to develop its experience through performance and exchange.
The Nations in One Voice Concert ultimately brought together two school communities with different backgrounds but a common musical interest.
Through the collaboration, the schools demonstrated how choral music can create opportunities for young people to perform, learn from one another, and build relationships across borders.
With hopes for more joint concerts and cultural exchanges, the event has opened the door for the relationship between Vulamasango School and Edendale Technical High School to continue beyond a single performance.
