DELMAS – The Hope of the Hopeless, and Rise Mpumalanga Talent (RMT) joined forces to host an inspiring talent showcase, celebrating the creativity and artistic excellence of young performers across various disciplines. Held at the Joheve Conference Hall, the event attracted an energetic audience eager to witness the rise of the province’s future stars.
Cllr Blondie Mbalati, Acting Speaker of Victor Khanye Local Municipality, praised the organisers for their efforts. “I’m thrilled that Rise Mpumalanga has brought their expertise and passion to Delmas. Their commitment to nurturing young talent and promoting creativity in our region is commendable,” he said.
The competition featured a wide range of performances, from music and poetry to drama, dance, traditional arts, choir, and fine art. Initially, 33 groups registered for the competition, but following a rigorous selection process, only 17 finalists remained to compete for attractive prizes.
Standout performances came from musical acts like Level M, Queen Mavuso, and Sdumo Wodumo. Poets Imbongi Nceku Yenkosi and Nkanyizi Yemamba captivated the crowd, while drama lovers enjoyed “Shoe That Speaks” and “Gifted Theatrical Production.” Traditional dance was vibrantly showcased by Amavulandlela and Buhle Bonke, and the Treasure Youth Choir impressed in the choral category. Visual artist Thulane showcased talent in the fine arts division.
One of the event’s standout performers, Buhlebendabuko Ntuli from Kwaggafontein A, reflected on her experience: “My roots are from Mpumalanga. I would like to thank Rise Mpumalanga Talent and their stakeholders for this opportunity. Winning this award today made me so happy—I’ve prayed for this chance.”
Siyamnga Zenzile, known as Sdumo Wodumo from Lydenburg, was grateful for being recognised as best performer in music category. “This certificate has boosted my confidence as an artist,” he shared.
However, the event was not without criticism. Mish Mosh from Delmas expressed dissatisfaction with the management, saying, “I was denied the opportunity to perform our music while playing our beats. I will no longer participate.”
Relebohile Freddie Ndebele, host and member of Rise Mpumalanga Talent, outlined the purpose of the event, “The Delmas Talent Show was a vision conceptualised by Hope of the Hopeless last year and brought to life this year. Our mission was to uplift, expose, and empower young talent. We ensured fairness across seven categories: Music, Choir, Poetry, Dance, Traditional Dance, Fine Art, and Drama.”
The judging panel included esteemed actor Patrick Mofokeng and Gogo Sboza from The Black Door TV show, ensuring professional standards throughout the competition. The event was hosted by Mpumalanga’s own Phindile Sifundza, popularly known as Phindi the Real Queen whose lively energy added flair to the day.
Although organisers acknowledged that not every expectation was met, they welcomed feedback and pledged to enhance future editions of the event. Contestants who couldn’t be accommodated were encouraged to share input for the next show.
As a special incentive, winners from the June 16 showcase earned the opportunity to perform at a major event scheduled for the following Sunday—offering them a larger platform to shine and grow their talents.
