mbulelo smpofu
Sipepisiwe Moyo, moyosipepisiwe@gmail.com
Twenty-four Harvest House International Church (HHIC) choirs will take to the stage next week Saturday at the annual “Clash of Hub Choirs” competition in Bulawayo.
The event will be held at the Harvest House International Conference Centre in Selbourne Park, starting at 8am.
Competing choirs hail from Zimbabwe, South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia. Judges for the event include renowned South African music producer Dr Lindelani Mkhize, Minister Michael Mahendere, and gospel singer Janet Manyowa.
In an interview, Minister Sukoluhle Luphahla revealed that the competition, initially set to feature 25 choirs, will now include 24.
“This is our annual competition, which began in 2014 with 14 choirs. These choirs represent different regions of the Harvest House International Church, and we call them Hub Choirs because they represent their regional hubs,” she said.
Minister Luphahla reflected on the competition’s evolution:
“Before this initiative, we used to invite gospel artistes like Benjamin Dube and Joyous Celebration to perform. Eventually, we decided to focus on growing our own musicians. In this competition, choirs perform only original songs — written, developed, arranged, and performed specifically for the event. Since 2014, we’ve written over 500 original songs.”
She noted that previous winners have included choirs from Bulawayo, Manicaland, and the church’s headquarters.
“We’ve seen massive growth in the quality of music presented each year,” she added.
The judges evaluate aspects such as song originality, stage presence, choreography, balance, and blending.
Minister Luphahla highlighted Dr Lindelani Mkhize’s pivotal role.
“In 2015, Dr Lindelani Mkhize, co-founder of Joyous Celebration in South Africa, collaborated with our hub choirs across various regions, including Mashonaland, Midlands, Masvingo, and South Africa.
“His role was to work closely with the choirs, refining the songs they had written, developed, and arranged, enhancing their overall presentations. His guidance significantly elevated the quality of performances, resulting in a noticeable improvement during the competition,” she said.
The judging panel, she said, changes annually to ensure diverse perspectives. In 2014, it included academics from Hillside Teachers’ College and the Academy School of Music.
Minister Luphahla underlined the competition’s broader purpose:
“After the event, we provide feedback to the choirs, especially those that didn’t win. This helps them refine their work and return stronger the following year.”
