UMCULO WAMAQHAWE: YOUNG VOICES CELEBRATE THE HEROES WHO SHAPED SOUTH AFRICA’S MUSIC.

The South African State Theatre presents uMculo wamaQhawe, a powerful celebration of South Africa’s musical heroes, performed by the South African State Theatre Youth Choir and led by Mandla Ntlaks. The production takes to the Malombo Theatre at the South African State Theatre on Friday, 18 September 2026 at 19:00.

Meaning “The Music of Heroes”, uMculo wamaQhawe honours musicians and cultural figures whose work has made a positive societal, political, cultural and economic impact in South Africa, tracing the country’s journey from the struggle against apartheid to the social realities and challenges of the present.

More than a traditional choral concert, the production brings together original compositions, South African and African sounds, narration, storytelling, poetry and movement to create an immersive journey through different musical eras. Each section explores a particular period and considers the relationship between music and the society from which it emerged.

South Africa’s history has long been carried through song. Music has accompanied moments of resistance and liberation, celebration and mourning, community and transformation. uMculo wamaQhawe draws on this powerful inheritance while placing young voices at the centre of its retelling.

Through the South African State Theatre Youth Choir, a new generation of performers honours the artists and heroes who came before them while simultaneously claiming its own place within South Africa’s evolving musical landscape.

Led by Mandla Ntlaks, the concert celebrates the collective power of African music and the ability of song to preserve memory, connect generations and inspire communities. The production brings heritage into conversation with the present, ensuring that the music of South Africa’s heroes is not simply remembered, but heard, experienced and carried forward.

Audiences can expect an energetic and emotionally resonant evening of African traditional music, choral performance, storytelling, poetry and movement. uMculo wamaQhawe is created for audiences across generations, inviting families, young people, music lovers and cultural enthusiasts to gather in celebration of the sounds and stories that continue to shape South Africa.

On 18 September, the Malombo Theatre becomes a meeting place between past and present, where young voices sing the stories of those who came before them and remind us that every generation has a responsibility to keep its cultural memory alive.

uMculo wamaQhawe. Our music. Our stories. Our heroes. Our voices.

EVENT DETAILS

Production: uMculo wamaQhawe

Date: Friday, 18 September 2026

Time: 19:00

Tickets: R150

Venue: Malombo Theatre, South African State Theatre, Pretoria

Genre: African Traditional Music

Age Restriction: All

Presented by: South African State Theatre Youth Choir

Led by: Mandla Ntlaks

MEDIA ENQUIRIES
Bongani Nicholas Ngomane
PR and Communications
South African State Theatre
bongani@statetheatre.co.za
072 700 6030

Nkhensani Mafuyeka
Nkhensani@statetheatre.co.za
079 296 3871
South African State Theatre
http://www.statetheatre.co.za