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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.
Translation Day Seminar at UFS
2007-09-21
The Programme in Language Practice at the University of the Free State (UFS) cordially invites all stakeholders in language practice to a translation day seminar:
Subverting the west: Engaging language practice as African interpretation
Date: Tuesday, 9 October 2007
Venue: C.R. Swart Auditorium
Cost: R50
Apart from papers read by Prof. Jacobus Naudé (UFS), Dr Kobus Marais (UFS), Prof. Joan Conolly from the Durban University of Technology (DUT) and Ms Lolie Makhubu (DUT), a full session will be devoted to a panel discussion involving the audience.
Against the background of the cabinet's proposal for language services for all government departments, the seminar day seeks to put up for discussion the African context in which language practice takes place. It will also be exploring an approach to translator education that is engaged in its African context by means of service learning.
The following four focus areas will receive attention:
- engaging translator education by means of a socio-constructivist approach;
- challenging the dominance of Western concepts in translator training and practice;
- exploring African indigenous oral knowledge as an interface for language practice;
- questioning code-switching in African interpreting settings.
Closing date for registrations is 1 October 2007.
For enquiries, registration forms, and programme details, contact Mr Kobus Marais on 051 401 2798.