A kwaito dancer, an opera duo and two sisters, were chosen as the four finalists in the first audition of the 2016 Tygerberg’s Talent competition.
The talent contest audition opened the fourth annual Tygerberg Heritage Festival at the Middestad Mall, Bellville, on Saturday September 17, just ahead of Heritage Day on Saturday September 24.
The festival celebrates Tygerberg’s cultural diversity and promotes reconciliation through arts and sport. It’s a chance for anyone to show their talent, whether it be dancing, singing, comedy, poetry or acting. It’s all about “building bridges” between local people, businesses and organisations, irrespective of race, age, faith, sexual orientation and social and cultural background.
The festival’s executive director, Kemi Adebayo, said: “This event helps inspire, connect, strengthen and celebrate disadvantaged communities.”
Participants anxiously waited to perform in front of the judges and a packed mall, all hoping to make it through to the final round. While there was no shortage of talent, the judges narrowed the hopefuls down to four. The opera duo, Piano Forte, won the hearts of the judges and the crowd as they surprised everyone with their performance. Sibuyiselo Dywili, from Kraaifontein, and Luyolo Otola, from Parow, have been singing together since last year. The judges encouraged them to seek professional training and told them they have what it takes to be stars.
The duo said it felt “good” to come first and and they were proud of their achievement.
In second place, was singer Anita Thiwani, followed by her sister, Tania Thiwani, in third. Kwaito dancer Adam Roof took fourth place. The four will move on to the finals on Saturday October 15. A second audition takes place at Parow Centre on Saturday October 1, from 10am to 2pm.
The festival, supported by various malls, and businesses in conjunction with Mould Empower Serve (MES) Voortrekker Road Corridor Improvement District (VRCID), the Greater Tygerberg Partnership (GTP) and Parow High School, is on until the end of October. Apart from the talent show, there is a cook-off, a networking event and a five-a-side football tournament.
* The finals for the talent show will be at Parow High School on Saturday October 15, from 2pm to 5pm. Tickets for the finals cost R5 each.
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