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Nine Western Cape schools brought months of preparation to the 12th Annual Primary School Nasheed Competition at Joseph Stone Auditorium over two evenings.
By YASEEN BARDIEN
Parents leaned forward in their seats, shouting out their children’s names as learners took to the stage to perform nasheeds.
Months of rehearsals culminated over two evenings, on July 31 and August 1, at the 12th Annual Primary School Nasheed Competition, organised by the Fusion Inyameko Foundation and held at the Joseph Stone Auditorium. Nine schools from across the Western Cape performed under the theme Echoes of Africa.
Fusion Inyameko Foundation co-founder Nizaam Abdol said the competition had grown “in leaps and bounds” since it was first held 12 years ago.
He said the biggest improvements had been in production, performance quality and the attire worn by competing schools.
“I don’t think 12 years ago we would’ve imagined the competition would reach the level that it is today.”
Though the performances lasted only five to seven minutes, they reflected months of rehearsals and holiday sacrifices.
Annieqah Abrahams, manager of the Habibia Primary School team, which won the girls’ competition, said her school’s learners had been preparing since the beginning of the year through its extracurricular nasheed programme.
“We invest a lot into the nasheed competition,” she said.
“We have sound checks to get professional coaches to come in and we have extensive training for them throughout the year as well.”
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For Darul Islam Primary School NPC, winner of the boys’ competition, preparation meant giving up much of the school holidays. Coach Taahir Moosa said the learners practised every day.
“The boys, they sacrificed the holidays. Every day during the holidays they were by me practising every day.”
He said their commitment became so demanding that the school’s principal eventually asked him to give the learners at least a day or two off during the holidays.
The atmosphere was lively throughout both evenings. Audience members applauded after every performance, parents cheered for their own children and even learners from other schools.
Some performers also encouraged crowd participation.
Abdol said the Echoes of Africa theme was chosen to encourage learners to celebrate Africa and appreciate the continent’s diversity.
Schools embraced the theme through both their performances and dress as colourful attire featured throughout the competition. Some groups wore face paint while others wore headpieces.
The competition consisted of three rounds. The opening round required schools to perform a prescribed nasheed using vocals only. In the second, schools performed a nasheed of their choice accompanied by a duff. The final round saw all nine schools perform a nasheed from the prescribed list.
Judges assessed various categories, including vocal ability, synchronisation, drumming and overall presentation.
Tasleema Allie said she was particularly struck by the values being nurtured through the event.
“When I look at what Fusion Inyameko has inspired in terms of unity amongst the groups, the sisterhood that’s being developed, the love for Islam, the knowledge of the Nabi Muhammad (ﷺ), I am really blown away and so proud of the parents, principals, teachers and all the young participants for what we have seen.”
She said the standard of the competition continued to improve. “You’d never say that these are primary school kids. The level just gets better every year.”
Judge Khalid Hendricks agreed. “A couple of years ago, the primary schools that participated in this annual event could never reach the level being presented today.
“The culture has grown and the spirit has grown and the support of families and community has definitely grown.”
One of Habibia Primary School’s captains, Batool Mohamed, said she had expected her team to finish second or third.
“I’m feeling really good because I was expecting second or third place. First place is a humongous surprise.”
Mohamed said that, for her, praising Allah SWT mattered more than winning.
Darul Islam Primary School NPC captain Zakariya January said he was overwhelmed after hearing his school’s name announced as the boys’ champions.
“I’m feeling shocked, excited and overwhelmed,” he said.
Pausing for a moment, he reflected on the sacrifices made by his teammates and himself.
“We had no holiday. Every day we had to be there, we had to be consistent. Alhamdulillah it paid off.”
Habibia Primary School won the girls’ competition ahead of Ieglaasi Nieyah Primary School, while Muhammadeyah Primary School and Al Azhar Institute Paarl shared third place. Darul Islam Primary School NPC took the boys title, followed by Ieglaasi Nieyah Primary School and Habibia Primary School.
Abdol said learners gained far more than competition experience through months of preparation. They spent months in the remembrance of Allah SWT, staying positively occupied and building friendships with like-minded peers.
Abdol said he hoped the competition would one day expand nationally.
List of participating schools:
1: Al Azhar Institute Paarl
2: Al-Waqiah Academy
3: Darul Islam Primary School NPC
4: Habibia Primary School
5: Hidayatul Islam Primary School
6: Ieglaasi Nieyah Primary School
7: Muhammadeyah Primary School
8: The Leadership College Junior
9: The Leadership College Hyde Park
