ACCLAIMED songbird Sibongile Khumalo is on a mission to keep her father’s legacy alive by reviving his outreach project, Khongisa Academy for Performing Arts.
Last week Khumalo, who is based in Johannesburg, visited her home last week in Vulindlela Township, Number 36, Nkanyezi Street, outside Dlangezwa, to give new life to the once talked about music academy.
Khumalo is the daughter of the late Prof Khabi Mngoma, who made his name in music circles while he was the Head of Music Department at the University of Zululand and was close confidante to Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi.
‘I’m excited about coming back home to revive my father’s passion. This project was founded by my father in 1976 as an outreach programme, while he was working at Unizulu.
‘He used his own pension money, after retirement, to build this structure here at home. He did all this out of love and passion he had for music and his community.
‘As we revive this academy, the only thing driving us is the spirit and the will, but not the money.’We need funds to build a school or a permanent structure that will recognise and acknowledge our music. We want to move out of the yard ultimately.
‘I’m appealing to all captains of industry, municipalities and other government departments to come to the party. We also appeal to the community of Vulindlela to own this project.
‘It this project fails, it will not be a failure of Sbongile Khumalo, but that of the community,’ said Khumalo who is the the music academy’s Chief Executive Officer.
Fundraiser
‘In this project I see myself as a fundraiser. I will be coming back every three months, but of course my ultimate plan is to relocate back to KZN. As I say this is my home. When I got married in 1984 I was staying here, in this house,’ she added.
Khumalo insisted that the academy was now open and would welcome children from throughout the City of uMhlathuze and surrounding areas.
‘As a nation we have so much to give and this facility is one way of addressing the social cohesion concept as Africans. We intend producing responsible and progressive citizens in their respective fields.
‘This facility has in the past produced other prominent musicians such as Tshepo Mngoma, Sibongile Mngoma, Bheka Mthethwa and many others,’ she said.
Principal of the academy, Emmanuel Dube said he was happy to see the academy opening again, adding that they had three dedicated teachers.
‘Our classes will be open every Saturday, where we will teach youngsters, the Theory of Music.
‘Young as they are, we will also register them through UNISA to acquire a certificate in Theory of Music, which is equivalent to a university qualification.
‘In this facility we teach them how to use violin, cello, marimba, recorders, double bass and congo drums.
‘As a member of Unizulu Council, I have raised this matter of bringing back the Department of Music, which was phased out some years back,’ he said.
Dube can be reached at 071 7236456.
