The Stellenbosch University (SU) Acapella Competition (SUAC) recently ended in a victory for SU residences Dagbreek, Aristea and Osler, who took home the three big awards at the finals this past weekend.
The finals took place on 27 August at the Endler Hall in the Konservatorium on SU’s campus, where the final nine groups representing nine SU residences and private student organisations (PSO) competed.
Over 450 people attended the event, according to Gerrard Damons, chairperson of the SU Student Representative Council (SRC) arts and culture committee (KuKo), who ran the competition.
The competition consisted of four rounds, with Simonsberg, Dagbreek, Helshoogte, Nerina, Metanoia, Huis ten Bosch, Nemesia, Aristea PSO and Osler PSO in the finals. The previous rounds took place on 27 July, 8 to 11 August, 17 to 18 August, 24 August and 27 August.
A total of nine teams participated in the Stellenbosch University Acapella Finals on 27 August at the Endler Hall. The teams were Simonsberg, Dagbreek, Helshoogte, Nerina, Metanoia, Huis ten Bosch, Nemesia, Aristea private student organisation (PSO) and Osler PSO. PHOTOS: Tamia Retief
The winners take it all
The SUAC announced the winners for multiple categories, ranging from best outfits to best composition, and the three top awards for best female, best male and best mixed group.
The winners are:
- Best Outfit – Minerva
- Viral Moment, Best Choreography, Best Compulsory Song, Best Solo (male) and Best Team (male) – Dagbreek
- Best Composition – Eendrag
- Best Arrangement, first Place (mixed) – Osler
- Best rendition of a South African song, Best Solo (female) and Best Team (female) – Aristea
The winners were announced by Damons, Jared Loggenberg (KuKo vice-chairperson), Moniq Gouws (KuKo project manager) and Layla Salie (KuKo secretary-general).
Viwe Kobokana, outgoing SRC chairperson, was also in attendance and handed over the awards to the respective teams.
Pictured above is William Moodie, master of ceremonies at the 2022 Stellenbosch University (SU) Acapella Competition and Gerrard Damons, chairperson of the arts and culture committee (KuKo) for the SU Student Representative Council (SRC), and his executive team, which consisted of Jared Loggenberg (KuKo vice-chairperson), Moniq Gouws (KuKo project manager), Layla Salie (KuKo secretary-general) and Viwe Kobokana, outgoing SU SRC chairperson. PHOTOS: Tamia Retief
Masimange Sesanti, a student at SU and leader of Aristea PSO’s acapella team, won the award for best female soloist at the competition.
“It isn’t my victory alone, as the leader and as the best [female] soloist. It was everyone’s victory. [It’s] honestly been such a beautiful experience and I’m glad I got to experience it with the other fifteen people in the group with me,” said Sesanti.
Dagbreek residence, Aristea private student organisation (PSO) and Osler PSO, won the three main categories of best team (male, female and mixed, respectively) at the recent Stellenbosch University Acapella Competition. PHOTOS: Tamia Retief
‘Acapella is finally back’
The 2021 acapella season differed greatly from this year’s, as last year the competition was hosted at the Blaauwklippen wine farm, while this year’s was on campus, said Damons.
This year, the competition also consisted of four rounds, whereas last year’s consisted of two rounds, explained Damons.
An additional improvement from previous years was the performances from the teams in the mixed category, said Loggenberg during the announcements.
“Thank you [to the audience] for making this KuKo comeback – it’s one for the books,” said Gouws.
“KuKo is immensely proud of each and every group that hit their note, danced till they dropped and gave it all on that stage,” said Damons.
“Acapella is finally back.”
Disclaimer: The name of Masimange Sesanti has been corrected since publication