The Gugulethu Tenors
Location: Based in Cape TownBiography
Afro-operatic pop sensations The Gugulethu Tenors have become a household name in South Africa since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2011. They have performed at some of SA’s top events and festivals, shared stages with local and international headliners, and been featured extensively in local and international media, whilst their fan base continues to expand, covering a wide and diverse audience.
Their journey to success, which started more than 10 years ago as four high school learners’ respective dreams of being on stage, has been widely publicised and serves as an inspiration to many.
Performance highlights include representing SA during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, captivating thousands at Cape Town’s FanFests with their soothing harmonies and remarkable voices, boasting standing-ovations at festivals like ABSA KKNK, Aardklop Arts Festival, Cultivaria and Klein Karoo Klassique to name a few, wowing corporate audiences across the country, and performing to politicians, dignitaries and superstars including Oprah Winfrey, Chris Rock and Mariah Carey.
Humble Beginnings
These self-taught vocalists, Mpendulo Yawa, Siyabulela Gqola, Xolani November and Loyiso Dlova, were selected from scores of hopeful entries at Fezeka High School in Gugulethu to enter a music competition called the Prompt Voice Search. They won first place for the best group category and have never looked back. They went on to win various other local competitions, and today this four-piece - who have been described as “South Africa’s Il Divo”, “Pavarotti’s Children” and “the Diamond of the Township” – are living their dream and enchanting the concert halls and corporate stages of South Africa with their collective song.
Afro-Opera
While their peers enjoy Kwaito, Hip Hop and Rap, the Gugulethu Tenors pursue their inherent love of Opera, a genre which is not traditionally associated with the township. By incorporating contemporary and subtle ethnic elements in their music, they have made the genre their own, capturing the hearts of audiences across South Africa and beyond with their raw talent. Their repertoire includes operatic favourites such as O Sole Mio, Nessun Dorma and Nella Fantasia, as well as popular songs like The Prayer, Miriam Makeba’s Pata Pata and even Gé Korsten’s Liefling. Their original compositions like O Afrika! and Nyamezela have audiences on their feet at every performance. The Gugulethu Tenors’ ambition goes beyond success as performers – collectively they aim to be role models for South Africa’s youth and, through their singing, to showcase the richness and diversity of South Africa’s cultural heritage.
Releases
- Audio CD: order the Tenor's self-titled Debut Album
- Music Video: Watch Nyamezela on YouTube
South African Noteworthy Performances
The Gugulethu Tenors have performed at numerous prestigious events in South Africa, including:
- Woolworths Charity Ball
- Die Burger Pops
- World Chefs Tour Against Hunger Gala Dinner
- Fleur de Cap Theatre Awards
- Mr South Africa Final
- FIFA FanFest and Fan Walks
- Table of Peace and Unity
- Cape Town International Jazz Festival
- African National Congress Gala
- Oprah party
- Nederburg Wine Auction
- 2011 Freedom to Create Prize Award Ceremony and Concert
- L'Ormarins Queen's Plate
- Vodacom Journalist of the Year Awards
- Kirstenbosch Carols by Candlelight
- Kirstenbosch Winter Concert Series
- FW de Klerk Foundation Gala Dinner
- World AIDS Day @ Parliament
- Festivals such as ABSA KKNK, Aardklop National Arts Festival, Paarl Cultivaria Festival, Vryfees, Cederberg Festival, Klein Karoo Klassique, Varing Festival, Greyton Rose Festival, Ubuntu Festival, Cape Town Festival
- Public performances at venues such as Oude Libertas Amphitheatre, On Broadway Theatre, Artscape Arena, V & A Waterfront, Boardwalk, PE, Ushaka, Durban, Joburg Theatre, Farmyard Theatre, Polokwane
Media
The The Gugulethu Tenors have enjoyed substantial features on all SA’s major TV magazine programmes, in all important print media (magazines, newspapers – English and Afrikaans), on radio and on the internet.
TELEVISION
In-depth features on:
- Showbiz Report
- Top Billing
- Expresso Morning Show
- KykNet Glitterati
- Sky News Worldwide
- E-TVSunrise Breakfast Show
- All Access
- Top TV Gospel
- And many more!
NEWSPAPER
Substantial coverage in:
- Weekend Argus (The Good Weekend)
- Sunday Sun
- Vukani
- Die Burger
- Volksblad
- The PE Herald
- City Vision
- Cape Argus
- The Mercury
- Daily Sun
- And many more!
MAGAZINES
Extensive articles and reviews in:
- Sawubona SAA in-flight magazine
- Get it! Magazine
- Vrouekeur Magazine
- Khuluma Magazine
RADIO
In –studio interviews and radio-play on:
- SAFM
- OFM
- Fine Music Radio
- CCFM
- Algoa FM
- SABC Weekend Live
- Cape Talk Radio
- Good Hope FM
- Bush Radio
- Umhlobo Wenene FM
- Helderberg Radio
- Whale Coast FM
- Radio 2000
- The Taxi
- The World (PRI’s BBC)
Client Feedback
These guys are just amazing!!! Every time I listen to them I get goosebumps!!!!
Liezel Short, Red Hot Events
On behalf of the LIFE Residential team, thank you for joining us yesterday evening. It was a truly memorable evening at Mandela Rhodes Place, primarily because of the phenomenal performance by the Gugulethu Tenors. They have gained many new fans and affirmed existing ones. Please pass on my sincerest thanks to the tenors – they are truly amazing. I look forward to seeing them performing again soon.
Rihard Boxford, LIFE Residential
Thank you, it all went well on Saturday and everyone enjoyed the Tenors – they were a good bunch to work with. We will definitely look at hiring them for our future events. Even the chess enthusiasts who generally play in silence enjoyed the entertainment provided by the Tenors.
Karen Bailey, Claremont Improvement District Company
YES, it went very well and all my friends and family loved your most wonderful and talented Tenors!!!! Again a big THANKS to them and also to Heinrich Kapp [sound engineer]. I wish you and your team a very blessed Holiday and may GOD bless you all with health and wealth and happiness in the New Year!!
Dr Heidi Retter
We enjoyed every minute with the Tenors. They are incredible!
June-Rose Ngcobo, National Research Foundation
The Tenors were excellent!!! It was such a lovely evening and they contributed to the success of it. The boys are so talented. Once again....THANK YOU!!!!!!
Patricia Jacobs, Manager Student Support Services, Northlink College
A huge thank you from all of us to you and the Tenors for opening our show in the most fitting way we could imagine. You got the crowd dancing and set the spirit and the tone of the evening just as you and I had discussed that we wanted to. What more could we have asked for. We were privileged to have you as part of the Freedom To Create project, and thanks for all your support over the last few months.
Kate Timperley, Freedom To Create
Awesome! They received a standing ovation, which says it all. Well done! People, including myself, also commented on how humble the guys are - no "diva" attitude! Well done and all the best for your future.
Meryl Pretorius, Transnet
Die Tenore is 'n fees om mee saam te werk – meeste van alles is hul positiewe attitude!
Usher Bell, Bell Events
Net voor ek nou finaal die Pops 2011 lêer toemaak, wil ek net graag weer vir die Gugulethu Tenore BAIE DANKIE sê dat hulle vanjaar bereid was om by die Pops op te tree. Hulle vertolking van Meadowlands was ‘n groot treffer! Dit was heerlik om hulle op ons verhoog te hê en die terugvoer oor die konsert is ongelooflik goed. Baie dankie ook vir jou knap reëlings en professionaliteit. Ek hoop ons kan weer saamwerk in die toekoms.
Mia Breet, Director: Die Burger Pops 2011
Thank you - your Guys were amazing! It is a tough crowd to please but they seemed to have wowed them never the less! Congrats & thank you!
Darielle Roberston, DNA Events
Many thanks for allowing us to have the Gugulethu Tenors entertain the public today at the Waterfront.We really appreciate your support and their amazing talent. They were unbelievable and did us proud. This event is to make awareness leading up to National Bandana Day.Thank you for your being prepared to support us and for your kindness.
Adi Phillips, Sunflower Fund, Western Cape
On behalf of the Southern Sun Cape Sun, my heartfelt thank you for your wonderful involvement in the Bidvest World Chefs Tour Against Hunger Gala Dinner, held at the Cape Sun on 27 August 2011. Your performance was definitely the highlight of the evening!
James Murdoch, General Manager, Southern Sun Cape Sun
Once again, your boys were stars! I don’t think there was a dry eye in the audience. Thank you for the slick organisation - the stage, lighting and sound was perfect.
Shona Bradford - N'Lighten
We loved working with the Tenors. They were wonderful & the client loved the performance!
Dhashinie Vandeyar – Indigo Marketing
The Tenors were absolutely amazing this morning! The delegates actually had tears in their eyes as they were finishing up, it was a very exciting and emotional moment! I did convey my thanks to them, but please tell them again!!
Liezel Short - Red Hot Events
The guys were superb, they rocked the event to no end and our audience loved them. We wouldn't hesitate to involve them in our events again. The variety of music they offer catered for everyone right across the board!!
Nola Matinise - Parliament, Cape Town
Wow what a great show. Very versatile, our guests were blown away. I will certainly use them for future conference if the clients want that type of evening. They got a standing ovation. Many thanks!
Sundru Pillay - Sumetro Travel
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