Bokamoso Art Institute from Mabopane, Tshwane put South African on the international stage by winning three gold medals at the World Choir Games held in North Korea despite facing financial challenges.
The choral group landed at OR Tambo International Airport on Saturday after putting South Africa on the world stage and the CEO of Bokamoso Art Institute, Nceba Mdaka said it was not an easy road to victory because they couldn’t secure sponsorship to travel abroad.
The choir spent about R1.1 million to buy 91 tickets, book accommodation, food, performance costumes and clothes, said Mdaka.
“We were assisted by the President (Mr Tiro Mpane) who carried all the costs and I think financial constraints were the biggest challenges. It was not an easy journey. It was a journey that really required hard work. That really required commitment, discipline and unity because it really needed all of us to pull our weight and really work hard.
“We had a musical technical team that was led by Mr Mohau Mogale. He is a very experienced man in the space of music. Obviously the administration team was led by myself and the music team was led by the MD Kgaugelo Mpyane. Choral worked really hard. They were camping for the past three to four months to make sure we attain the goals that we have achieved.
“We are coming back as world champions. We have made history. We have achieved three golds in our first attempt in the competition. We are the first affiliates in the competition so it really made history. On top of that we came back with a championship in one of the categories that we were part of. That is the long and short story of our journey,” he added
Mdaka called on the government and businesses to assist them with sponsorship.
“We hope that sponsors and governments can really come together and make sure that we move from one step to the other and this gets bigger and bigger. So we can achieve our set goals,” he said.
However, the Department of Sport, Art and Culture said it is prepared to work with the choir and assist it to secure sponsorship, its spokesperson Litha Mpondwana said.
“The Department of Sport, Art and Culture has entities that are able to assist Bokamoso Art Institute with undertakings such as recording music, applying for funding etc. The department also has to follow processes in giving out funding.
“The department welcomes any opportunity to meet with Bokamoso Art institute and to help the group map a way forward and highlight these possibilities”.
