- VC’s remarks on 2024 TUT Music Idols
On this beautiful last day of the last month of the South African winter, the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) is proud to launch the TUT Music Idols Competition. This is a unique TUT programme which is exclusively aimed at unearthing; acknowledging; showcasing and unleashing the musical talent that resides among the TUT student body.
TUT students are famous for their resilience. They are renowned for their never-say-die and their get-up-and-go attitude. If they were not like that, they wouldn’t be TUT students. TUT students do not wait for the future, they make themselves ready for it and they proceed to shape the future.
Of all the academic and sporting talent that sizzles at TUT, the musical talent of our students tends to be grossly underestimated. Today, we commence the shift from underestimation to proper estimation, because today we shall unearth musical talent that will blow your mind and leave you begging for more. We are ready to showcase musical talent that has never been seen before.
To this end, we have put together a programme of musical talent that is at the level of Tyla Laura Seethal – winner of the Best African Performance at the 2024 Grammys. We aim to unearth musical talent at the level of Black Coffee and Sho Madjozi - winners of the much-coveted BET Award, 2016 and 2019 respectively. Today we shall witness musical talent akin to that of Kabza de Small, DJ Maphorisa, Kamo Mphela, Casper Noyest, DJ Zinhle, Mi Casa and Simphiwe Dana. Yes, that’s where we are at today.
The TUT Music Idols will cause your mouths to sing songs you have never sung before. Take care, your feet may do the tango, your body may do the salsa-dance and before you know it, you will be doing the marabi dance of Marabastad.
Remember that we are here to unearth, to acknowledge, to showcase and to unleash musical talent as this country has never seen before. The TUT Directorate of Extracurricular Development did not just stumble upon the Musical Idols Concept. It was impelled and compelled by the musical talent that pulsates across TUT campuses, from Limpopo to Mpumalanga to Gauteng, the same musical talent that permeates the air at this venue today.
As famous French writer, Victor Hugo once said: “There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come”. The TUT Music Idols is an idea whose time has come!
Congratulations to the student stars who have signed up for the inaugural TUT Music Idols.
As William Shakespeare once said: “If music be the food of love, play on”.
Mandisa Khumalo,(top), second year Water Science and Technology student and winner of the TUT Music Idols 2024.
Tshwane University of Technology students showcasing their musical talents at the TUT Music Idols 2024.