The students sang and danced for the cash prizes.
Wits University students representing different residences went head to head at the All Res Council (ARC) talent show in the Great Hall on Friday, August, 30.
Lubabalo Sauli was the eventual winner in the competition walking away with R 2000. Sauli, a singer, said he did not expect to win. “I just wanted to perform for a bigger audience and share my love for music. If it were up to me, I would have performed as a non-competing contestant but this was not possible,” said the Junction resident and LLB postgraduate student.
Lubabalo Sauli, winner of the ARC talent show and R 2000 cash prize, poses with his prize. Photo: Wits Vuvuzela.
Dancing duo, Nokwanda and Neo, from Jubilee residence, came in second and took home a R1 000 cash prize. Third place was snatched by a Pedi spoken word poet, Jonas, from Noswal Hall who won R500.
One of the audience’s favorite, Thato Khumalo, said that it was an honour to perform for the first time in his life at the ARC talent show.
”Seeing people sing and dance to my music even though they don’t know the lyrics was very inspiring.
“This just confirmed that I am talented. I am still young and I surely still have room to grow and learn,” said the 19-year-old metallurgy engineering student.
ARC chairperson Botsie Sebakeng said the main aim of the talent show is to eradicate the stigma that the only thing that validates students is their academic performance.
“We try to change the stigma or even shake it by giving students the platform to show what they are good at and still be appreciated.
“It is to encourage students to showcase their talent outside of academics and to reassure them that it is okay to be good at other things and not be great at what you’re maybe expected to be good at,” she told Wits Vuvuzela.
Third-year clinical medical practice student and audience member, Simamkele Mpatelwa, told Wits Vuvuzela that she enjoyed the show but the dancers seemed out of practice.
“The show was okay, the singers were the best,” she said.
FEATURED IMAGE: Lubabalo Sauli performing a song he dedicated for women’s month. Photo: Wits Vuvuzela.
