Champions again: South Africa reigns in singing and dancing
Gold medalists: The Stellenbosch University Choir and the SA street dance group. Pictures: stellenboschuniversity_choir/Instagram and @GautengSACR (X)
Someone joked that each week, South Africa is announced as a champion in a particular sporting code or a Mzansi citizen shines on a world stage.
The Stellenbosch University Choir and South Africa's senior street dance group are the latest to make their mark internationally.
ALSO READ: 'No DNA, just RSA': Seven moments in 2024 that will fill you with patriotism [VIDEO]
Stellenbosch University Choir
The Stellenbosch University Choir earned three gold medals earlier this month at the Interkultur European Choir Games and Grand Prix of Nations 2025 competition in Aarhus, Denmark.
Held from 28 June to 6 July, the international choir competition saw 132 choirs from 33 countries competing in various categories.
The Stellenbosch University Choir was invited to participate in the Grand Prix of Nations and was the only choir representing South Africa and Africa.
Longstanding conductor of the Stellenbosch University Choir, André van der Merwe, said he was proud of the students.
'They sing in the choir for the love of singing. And our marks of above 95% for all three categories are an incredible compliment at an international level. I am such a proud choir master,' said Van der Merwe on the university's website.
Van der Merwe has been with the choir since 2003.
'When I look back on how we performed this week, I would not change anything, because it was both an amazing experience and an amazing learning opportunity,' said choir member and Stellenbosch University student Lambert Tuyishime.
ALSO READ: Miss SA Mia Le Roux joins National Dialogue to 'ensure credibility'
Street Dance champions
In another proud moment for the country, the South African senior street dance group won a gold medal in the Street Dance category at the 2025 Dance World Cup, in Burgos, northern Spain.
In this global dance competition, 50 countries were competing, with each country having only four spots available per age group and genre at the World Finals.
South Africa won with a final score of 95.7%.
Dance World Cup participants must qualify through the qualifier held in the country where their dance school is located to attend the DWC Finals.
Dance schools in countries that host a DWC qualifier can only apply to enter the DWC Finals through their respective country's qualifier.
The World Cup came to a close on Saturday with the South Africans returning home on Monday.
NOW READ: Dating games: The 7 quiet signs of attraction
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Citizen
19 minutes ago
- The Citizen
IN PICTURES: ABSA Run Your City Durban
A field of approximately 10 000 people took to the streets of Durban on Sunday in the annual ABSA Run Your City 10k race. 10, 000 South African walkers and runners take part close to the Moses Mabhida stadium in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K race along the promenade in Durban. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal The Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10k was won by Kabelo Mulaudzi on Sunday morning, in a speedy 27 minutes and 41 seconds. The ladies race was won by Clare Ndiwa from Kenya in 30 minutes and 50 seconds. Photographer Rajesh Jantilal was there to capture the action. Carmen Barnard from Get Fit Athletics Club, does a dance with a local Zulu traditional Dance called Isizwile Dance group during the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K race along the promenade in Durban. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Some of the 10 000 runners seen along the promenade in Durban. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Officials assist the first three runners at the finish line during the Women's race during the Absa RUN YOUR CITY DURBAN 10K race along the promenade in Durban. yesterday. The winner Clare Ndiwa finished in 30mins and 50 seconds. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Second time runner Khona Mgobozi from Ballito jumps high in excitement. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Picture: Rajesh Jantilal Velipheni Ngcobo from Umlazi is the last person to cross the line as Isizweli Womens Zulu traditional dance group cheer him on. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal MORE IN PICTURES: ABSA Run Your City Cape Town
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Too much of a good thing? The matcha fried rice trend takes a turn
Matcha, the finely ground Japanese green tea powder known for its calming properties and health benefits, is having a moment right now. Image: Pixabay Scrolling through social media these days feels like stepping into a digital food festival, one where creativity often walks hand in hand with chaos. We've seen everything from rainbow bagels to charcoal ice cream, but just when you think you've seen it all, along comes … matcha fried rice. But here's the thing: while matcha lattes are one thing, the internet has now decided to test just how far matcha can go, and matcha fried rice might just be proof that not every food trend is worth trying. Matcha, the finely ground Japanese green tea powder known for its calming properties and health benefits, is having a moment right now. From iced lattes and cheesecakes to croissants and even skincare masks, it's everywhere. But have we finally reached peak matcha? A recent viral video on Instagram seems to suggest so. Shared by food creator @foodmakescalhappy, the clip shows a home cook whipping up fried rice with a generous spoonful of matcha powder tossed right in. Alongside usual suspects like soy sauce, garlic, miso, wasabi and eggs, the vibrant green powder turns the dish into something that looks part superfood, part science experiment. His verdict? Let's just say the taste didn't match(a) the hype. 'Matcha fried rice, sigh,' the creator wrote, admitting the flavours just clashed, the cook confessed in the caption. The taste was described as bitter and oddly clashing, proving that not every mash-up is destined to be delicious. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Social media's obsession with 'too much matcha' It's easy to laugh this off, but something is fascinating about why so many people, nearly 100 000 viewers and counting, can't stop watching. Maybe it's the colour, maybe it's the shock factor, or maybe it's because matcha feels so healthy that even when we go too far, we hope it might still be good for us. Matcha is popular because it's rich in antioxidants, especially catechins, which can help protect against cell damage. It's also been linked to improved heart health and even boosted brain function, according to studies. But experts also caution: adding it to everything isn't always a good idea, especially in large amounts. Too much matcha can make foods bitter and can irritate the stomach. Matcha, like other teas, contains caffeine and tannins, which can irritate the stomach lining and increase stomach acid production, especially when consumed on an empty stomach. Additionally, the high levels of chlorophyll in matcha can have a mild laxative effect, potentially leading to digestive discomfort in sensitive individuals Shared by food creator @foodmakescalhappy, the clip shows a home cook whipping up fried rice with a generous spoonful of matcha powder tossed right in. Image: Instagram The comment section: comedy gold, of course, what really makes this trend go viral isn't the recipe, it's the reactions. The internet's sense of humour never disappoints, and the comment section turned into a meme party almost instantly: 'I'll call the police and ambulance.' 'Not the kind of greens I imagined for rice.' 'This is illegal.' 'Bro, I have the same matcha and was just thinking of cooking this last week.' It's part cringe, part community. We watch these strange food trends not because we plan to copy them, but because they give us a moment to laugh, feel connected, and wonder: 'Who thought this was a good idea?' Why we love (and sometimes hate) food fads Food psychologist Dr Rachel Herz, author of Why You Eat What You Eat, explains why we're hooked: 'Novelty excites our brains. Even if the idea is repulsive, we're driven by curiosity.' Social media accelerates this because it rewards what's weird, colourful and clickable sometimes more than what's tasty. This trend also plays into what experts call food neophobia and food neophilia, the push and pull between our instinct to avoid unusual foods and our thrill of trying something new. But is matcha fried rice good for you? On paper, matcha has plenty of health benefits. However, once you start adding wasabi, miso, garlic and soy sauce, your dish can become a salty, bitter mess. And no number of antioxidants can fully fix that.
TimesLIVE
4 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Meet the designer behind the glamour of Mzansi's A-listers
From the red carpet to reality TV, Zah Makhanya is the creative genius behind some of the most iconic fashion moments in South Africa. Founder of Miracle Lux Couture by Zah, she is not only a highly sought-after fashion designer, but also a dynamic businesswoman, entrepreneur and wife whose style empire continues to grow. Zah has styled and dressed Mzansi stars including including the late kwaito legend Mshoza, veteran actress Baby Cele, rising star Lorraine Moropa, Big Brother Mzansi 's Ashley Ogley, Omuhle Gela and Zamo Dlamini. Her designs have also made appearances on popular Mzansi reality TV shows, further cementing her influence in the entertainment industry "I believe in helping women feel powerful, confident, and beautiful, not only through what they wear, but how they carry themselves. Fashion is more than fabric. It's a way of being," Zah told TshisaLIVE. "My most memorable moments must have been dressing the late Mshoza, who was always representing my brand with courage and style. I remember watching TV and seeing my dresses on the reality show. I cried and said I wish my mother was alive to witness this. She was always motivating me to work hard. Recently seeing Ashley from Big Brother Mzansi wearing my dresses at the Durban July warmed my heart. It makes me happy to see people loving and feeling great in our pieces." When Zah started in 2014, she was selling clothes and juggling a corporate job. Today she curates special designs to make women feel beautiful, confident and strong. Her flagship brand is renowned for its show-stopping gowns and sophisticated suits. "My process starts with a vision. I look at what's trending, what clients need and what makes a woman feel good. I choose quality fabrics, sketch ideas and work closely with my team to bring them to life. I'm also influenced by what I see during my travels and what people are asking for. We get many of out garments from different parts of the world and bring different styles for our clients." Expanding beyond fashion, Zah launched Zahfro Vietnam Hair, a luxury hair brand offering premium Vietnamese hair products. "Hair is part of how women express themselves. By offering the products, I'm giving women more ways to feel confident and beautiful. It's not only about looks, it's about how you feel. I used to self-test and buy quality hair products. Clients kept asking me about my hair and if I sold the products. I started Zahfro Vietnam Hair to meet the demand." Zah has plans in the pipeline to cement her name in the fashion industry. "We recently opened a store in Midrand, and we plan to expand to more areas in South Africa and even abroad. I also want to start masterclasses to help women and young girls with self-esteem and confidence through fashion. We believe with time we will be one of the biggest boutique stores in history. Our vision and aim is to make it a generational business and feed hundred of families through job creation."
