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Kruger Park gets its own song
09/06/2008 21:31 - (SA)
Gcina Ntsaluba & Vinni Dlamini
Skukuza - Songwriter Shalati Joseph Khosa of Phalaborwa in Limpopo has been commissioned to write a song for the 110th anniversary of the Kruger National Park.
The song, which will be sung by the park's choir at the main birthday event in Skukuza on Saturday, is called Great Wilderness Great.
"The Kruger is a huge inspiration to me and I feel that it is one of our nation's valuable heritage assets, so it was a natural step for me to write this song," said Khosa, who wrote the song over two days.
Khosa has been writing songs since 1958. He also composed an alternative National Anthem for the Convention for a Democratic South Africa (Codesa) before the current anthem was adopted.
His composition was called Vunwe and was written in Xitsonga and English.
The Kruger has been hosting activities for the past three weeks to celebrate its birthday.
Celebrations have included neighbouring communities and the minting of a new Krugerrand.
DJ Sdunkero
The celebrations started with an event in Phalaborwa with surrounding communities from Phalaborwa, Giyani and Thohoyandou were invited to festivities.
Residents of Bushbuckridge, Acornhoek and Hoedspruit were invited to festivities at Satara camp, while residents of Komatipoort, Malalane, KaBokweni and Hazyview will be invited to Skukuza.
From June 1 to 13, competitions, special offers and other activities are planned, ending with a main event in Skukuza on Saturday, which will be addressed by environmental affairs and tourism minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk.
Mpumalanga star of the moment, South African Music Award (Sama) winner DJ Sdunkero will be one of the entertainers.
Those interested in joining the celebrations can visit www.sanparks.org.
The park is a world-famous destination and the largest game reserve in South Africa, covering nearly two million hectares of land.
- African Eye
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South Africa
