CPUT’s own unique anthem

The CPUT choir recently released a new song, ‘The Spirit of Cape Peninsula’ which is intended to be the CPUT’s own unique anthem for all CPUT community members to learn and know the song and understand its message of hope and inspiration.

Choir conductor/Director, Vusumzi Tsham, said the song was composed by a South African composer and scholar, Dr Bongani Ndodana-Breen, works at the University of Cape Town’s College of Music as a composition lecturer, Ndodana-Breen is also an associate professor of music. “He wrote the text/lyrics and music respectively.”

“The song in its style is an anthem and the purpose or reason behind the composition was that, CPUT as the institution to have its own unique anthem… We all go through hardships in life, this song reiterates the fighting spirit in each and every one of us. “

Acting Dean of Student Affairs, Nonkosi Tyolwana, said the song will become an intrinsic part of the university’s brand identity and will be sung at graduations, sports games, conferences, and all other events where CPUT is represented. “It is entrenched in CPUT values of ‘ubuntu and ubunye’ – we hope that in future it will completely be the ‘CPUT anthem’ that reflects One Smart CPUT in all CPUT graduations and other high level university events.”

Tyolwana stated that almost all universities have driven away from “Gaudeamus Igitur” and replaced it with songs that reflect patriotism where staff, students and their parents and guardians can associate with .”CPUT followed the trend to ensure that graduations and other university events provide a significant meaning through the song that evokes patriotism and is understood by all.”

As the choir conductor, Tshama prepares the choir for public performances, this includes motivating the choir, teaching them technical knowledge of music and help them shape their identities through music.

“I hope the song will lift the spirits of the CPUT community members and unite them to go face to face with hardships they will encounter in life.” He added that this song is unique because of its style. “It infuses influences that are drawn from the Western and African art music and language. It is not an African piece but a South African piece because of its syncretic styles.”

Tsham continued: “We are living in challenging and difficult times and for us to overcome these challenges we must rely heavily on the arts, music being one of the art-forms. I quote ‘It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.’ - J.R.R Tolkien.”

Tyolwana said the song highlights the CPUT as the home to many and a source of inspiration to its staff, students and alumni of CPUT, and “we hope that it becomes an intrinsic feature of the CPUT brand. We also encourage staff, students and alumni to popularise it, learn to sing it and take pride in the lyrics as it embraces CPUT as the place of belonging and pride”.

“We hope that the song serves as an inspiration and motivation for the CPUT community- as this is CPUT Anthem is for the current CPUT communities and generations to come… The choir has worked very hard at rehearsing the song, and I am sure they will do justice to the composition. We also invite students and staff to join the choir as we know students come and go- staff can play a critical role in ensuring that the choir is available throughout the year.”

Written by Aphiwe Boyce

Email: boyceap@cput.ac.za