UFH’s “Dimitri” gives stellar performance for President Ramaphosa

Sazi Gcaba, UFH final-year Music student who is also a multi-award-winning opera singer gave a stellar performance before President Cyril Ramaphosa with his rendition of Ngabe Kwenzenjani?  - a powerful piece about the 1976 Soweto Youth Uprising.

The 23-year-old from Flagstaff, fondly referred to as “Dimitri” by fellow students and Lecturers performed during the memorandum-of-understanding signing ceremony between the ANC and UFH held last Sunday at the De Beers Art Gallery on the Alice campus.

His performance, together with Litha Mazaleni who is also a final-year student playing the piano, was met by thunderous applauses from the delegates in attendance.

Composed by Qinisela Sibisi, the lyrics of the song centre around the revolutionary uprising of the students of South Africa on June 16, 1976. The singer is a concerned father of the children that are brutally murdered and asks “Ngabe Kwenzenjani?” which loosely translates to What is happening and, or why is this happening?  

Sazi, an Operatic Lyrical Baritone who describes his music as Classic Opera from the West says performing for the President was a huge honour.

“It was an amazing feeling, especially the applauses after my performance. I will forever cherish that moment.”

Sazi started singing choral music in high school and developed a passion for opera music in 2019 whilst doing his first year at UFH. He has since won awards from opera music competitions such as the Voices of South Africa International Opera and the Aspiring Opera Singing Voice competitions.

Earlier this year he was selected to be among 20 opera singers from around the world to participate in a production called, Artist for Peace which was a digital benefit concert for war victims in Ukraine.

Well done Dimitri!