The late Jonny Clegg’s iconic “Asimbonanga” took on new life when the talented choirs of Northwood School and St Mary’s joined forces and voices to deliver an unforgettable musical experience!
Durban, South Africa (30 May 2025) – Music’s ability to stir some of the deepest emotions, connect souls from opposite paths and ignite an appreciation for the beauty all around us is something that will never go out of style – or that we’ll ever stop celebrating.
Giving us all the goosebumps was a stunning musical mash-up by the all-boys school, Northwood School and the all-girls school, St Mary’s DSG Kloof, during a recently held Collaboration Concert.
On Friday, 16 May, the music departments from the two schools joined forces for the very first time, delivering a variety of musical performances that left those in the audience in absolute awe.
A video shared on Facebook shows one of the highlights of the evening, as the schools’ choirs sing a choral version of the song Asimbonanga, written in 1986 by the late Johnny Clegg and Juluka, which was a tribute to Nelson Mandela during his imprisonment.
Together, the students’ voices blended harmoniously with talented solo singers from both schools, emphasising the song’s deep message, which holds so much of our country’s history.
“It was an inspiring evening filled with the rich sounds of Choirs, Marimba bands and Jazz bands, all showcasing the incredible talent from both schools. The energy, collaboration, and joy were simply unforgettable,” St Mary’s shared.
Great things happen when we come together, and this can be said for this musical collaboration, which not only celebrated music and our rich culture but also demonstrated how, when we work toward a greater good, we can create something truly beautiful.
Viewers who enjoyed the video online praised the Northwood-St Mary’s performance as wonderfully hair-raising and an example of the unity we should all strive for as a nation.
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