By Rorisang Modiba
- Thokozani “Somnandi” Langa has launched a new Maskandi Dancers Competition with cows and goats as prizes for the best dancers.
- Winners will be announced at the Somnandi Music Festival in Ulundi on 20 December, with animals delivered to their homes.
Maskandi dancers known as amagidangoma could soon swap their stage moves for livestock.
Legendary musician Thokozani “Somnandi” Langa has launched the Maskandi Dancers Competition, and the top prizes are cows and goats.
Both the winner and runner-up will each receive five cows, while other top dancers will take home goats. Langa says the prizes are a symbol of respect and reward for those who keep the traditional maskandi spirit alive.
The competition will honour the dancers who bring energy and rhythm to live shows but rarely get recognition.
Winners will be announced at the 4th annual Somnandi Music Festival, which takes place at Ulundi Airport in KwaZulu-Natal on 20 December.
Somnandi, who has been in the industry for more than 30 years and has won several SAMA and SATMA awards, said he started the competition to give dancers the credit they deserve.
He told Daily Sun that dancers share the struggles and successes of musicians. “If we are hungry, we are hungry together. If everything is okay, we are all okay together.”
Somnandi added that winners will not have to worry about collecting their prizes – the animals will be delivered straight to their homes.
He hopes to make the competition an annual event to continue celebrating the unsung heroes of maskandi music.
Pictured above: Thokozani “Somnandi” Langa.
Image source: @ThokozaniLanga
