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03 January 2020
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Story Xolisa Mnukwa
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Photo Supplied
The UFS Bloemfontein Campus, South Campus, and Qwaqwa Campus choirs are student-centred choirs functioning under the Student Affairs’ Arts, Culture and Dialogue office.
It has been a noteworthy year for the University of the Free State (UFS) Choir, establishing itself on the student/university choir scene. The choir, based on the Bloemfontein Campus, represented the UFS at the bi-annual KUESTA choir festival earlier this year, showcasing its musical talent. The choir shared a stage with other university choirs from around the country.
The UFS (Bloemfontein Campus) Choir is a 42-member ensemble of students; the other two choirs, based on the South and Qwaqwa campuses, consist of 40 and 62 members respectively. The choirs are administered and managed by the Division of Student Affairs’ Arts, Culture and Dialogue Office. In addition to Kovsie culture, the choirs strive to have a varied repertoire of inclusive music, with the UFS BFN Campus choir performing a diversity of songs in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, and Sesotho.
The new South Campus choir was established in 2018 and is led by choir director, Bonisile Gcisa, who specialises in choral music. This leg of the choir will therefore perform many of his works, but will also include some of the Bloemfontein choir’s set lists, since most of the choir members will be auditioning in 2021 for the Bfn choir when they change campuses.
The Qwaqwa Campus choir will lean more towards a choral genre under the direction of Sipho Khumalo.
The UFS Bloemfontein Campus choir was officially re-established under the leadership of choir conductor Leona Geldenhuys in March 2018, and has performed at several events, including the Rector’s Concert, the annual KUESTA choir convention, and the Bloemfontein Choir invitational. The group has also held a number of public performances on the Thakaneng Bridge at the UFS Bloemfontein Campus.
“Part of the UFS Student Affairs’ objective is to create an inclusive and a socially just student lived experience, and that is the mandate the choirs will also adopt. We hope to create an experience that not only enhances our students’ singing abilities, but also contribute to a more inclusive university experience.” – Angelo Mockie – Director: UFS Student Affairs Arts, Culture and Dialogue office.
“Rest well, be safe, and return rejuvenated,” were his parting words to students for the festive season.
Prof Heidi Hudson appointed to international Committee on the Status of Women
2015-11-24
 Prof Heidi Hudson is looking forward to advancing women scholars globally
Photo: Supplied
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Prof Heidi Hudson, director of the Centre for Africa Studies at the University of the Free State, was recently appointed by the President of the International Studies Association (ISA) to serve on the Committee on the Status of Women from March 2016 to April 2018.
Representing over 100 countries, ISA has more than 6 500 members in North America and internationally, and is the most respected and widely-known scholarly association in the field of International Studies.
She anticipates that her role on the committee will complement her research interests in feminist security theory and practice in Africa. “I am looking forward to playing a part in the advancement of southern scholars, and the promotion of their voice in global academe.”
Prior to Professor Hudson’s appointment, she served as a member of the executive of the Feminist Theory and Gender Studies (FTGS) Section of ISA.
Representing women of the world in academia
The Committee on the Status of Women has the task of reviewing the status of women in the profession, and making recommendations to the president and the Governing Council of ISA on ways of tracking and increasing the status and visibility of women in the profession.
“Some of the goals of the committee for the 2014 to 2016 period include reaching out to women scholars in the global south; creating an ISA networking website for women scholars; and surveying perceptions of the international relations climate and its needs,” said Prof Hudson. It is also responsible for “tracking gender balance within ISA and its journals, and supporting ISA regions in fulfilling the mission of the Committee on the Status of Women,” she added.
Connecting scholars globally since 1959
The ISA has been the premier organisation for connecting scholars and practitioners in fields of international studies, and promoting research and education. ISA cooperates with 57 international studies organisations in more than 30 countries, is a member of the International Social Science Council, and enjoys non-governmental consultative status at the United Nations.
Prof Hudson’s research interests concentrate on discursive and material gender deficits of liberal peacebuilding in the post colony, amongst other subjects. She is also co-editor of International Feminist Journal of Politics.