500 Voices, Two Nights, One Unmissable Celebration
The National Arts Festival presents the 13th edition of Masicule, the annual choral event that has become a defining moment in Makhanda’s cultural calendar. Over 500 singers from the city’s most celebrated choirs will fill the Guy Butler Theatre at The Monument across two extraordinary nights.
Masicule has become a tribute to the deep choral traditions of the Eastern Cape, where school-going choristers sing alongside their heroes on a professional stage.
This year’s Masicule welcomes two powerhouse voices to the stage: Zwai Bala, one-third of the legendary trio TKZee and the much-loved The Bala Brothers is a vocalist whose range and emotional depth have made him one of South Africa’s most respected artists. His work spans genres—from kwaito to soul to gospel—and his commitment to preserving and elevating choral music has made him a champion of the form.
Fans will also know Pinky Bala, another Bala sibling, from the reality series The Bala Family. Pinky is a singer, songwriter and producer known for her work in gospel and contemporary South African music. Her ability to move seamlessly between traditional and modern styles makes her the perfect complement to an evening rooted in both heritage and innovation. Expect soaring harmonies, call-and-response and the kind of goosebumps moments that stay with you long after the final note.
The National Arts has in recent years supported the development of the Eastern Cape’s choral tradition beyond Masicule, through their close working association with the Makhanda Kwantu Choir and more recently the development of the Makhanda Igwijo Competition. At the 2025 National Arts Festival, a local Igwijo group Makhanda Combined won the competition and was invited to record on The Soil’s latest album. With support from the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture and a major community effort, the group travelled to Johannesburg to experience a professional recording studio—a turning point for many of the young singers involved.
Monica Newton, CEO of the National Arts Festival, said:
“We’re committed to providing a platform to spotlight and grow choral voices in South Africa, and Masicule is an important project towards that recognition. This event gives young singers the chance to perform on a major stage alongside artists they’ve admired for years and is a reminder of the deeply powerful emotional and symbolic experience of voices in harmony. The Eastern Cape has produced some of South Africa’s most extraordinary choral music, and Makhanda remains a stronghold of that legacy. Masicule honours that history while creating space for the next generation to step into the light.”
Produced and presented by the National Arts Festival, Masicule is made possible with the support of the Eastern Cape Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Creative City Grahamstown, Access Music Project and the Sarah Baartman District Municipality and the DT Hudson Trust.
The National Arts Festival takes place from 26 June – 6 July in Makhanda in the Eastern Cape. Further programme announcements will be shared in the weeks to come.
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Show Information:
Masicule 2026
Venue:
Guy Butler Theatre, The Monument, Makhanda
Dates & Show Times:
Sunday, 19 April at 18:00
Monday, 20 April at 19:00
Ticket Price:
R65 (Full)
R45 (Scholars, Students, Pensioners)
Bookings:
Available through Webtickets
