By Bradley Grovers
Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Student Representative Council (SRC) kicked off the year with a bang on Friday 11 March, when KuKo (the SRC’s arts and culture committee) hosted the annual Molassesêr finals at Wilgenhof Men’s Residence. Tygerberg were named the overall winners of this year’s competition.
Residences and private student organisations (PSOs) from both Tygerberg and Stellenbosch campuses lit up the stage with their voices and choreography. The annual Molassesêr event is an acapella-based competition, managed by KuKo, that allows student communities to engage in culture through song and dance. All interested residences and PSOs audition to secure a spot in the prelims and to stand a chance of competing in the finals. These selected groups battle against one another to earn the title of Molassesêr champions.
Gerrard Damons, portfolio head of KuKo, said, “KuKo, myself and the team [worked] tirelessly to make this [year’s] event a great success. [Friday’s finale was] proof that we managed to reach our vision for Molassesêr 2022.”
Alex Frantz, a second-year MBChB student at Tygerberg campus, said, “I’m extremely delighted that after two years of not being able to perform due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we as Hippokrates men were able to sweep a win in the men[‘s] category of Molassesêr 2022.”
In total, 10 student communities were represented in this year’s competition. Student residences and PSOs participated in the mixed category, where eNkanhoff (eNkanyini and Meerhoff residences) achieved first place, Venuprite (Venustia, Capri and Equité PSOs) second, and Metanoia third. In the men’s category, Hippokrates men came in first, Dagbreek second, and Wilgenhof third. In the women’s category Huis Francie van Zijl came in first, Heemstede second, and Hippokrates women third.
Other communities also walked away with prizes such as the spirit award (Dagbreek), best choreography (Huis Francie van Zijl, Venuprite and Hippokrates men), best prescribed song (Wilgenhof and Huis Francie van Zijl) and best script (eNkanhoff).
Daleen Laurence, a second-year BCom (International Business) student, said, “As a member of Heemstede, I’m extremely grateful and proud to have accomplished what I came here to do. We worked tirelessly, and I’m beaming with pride for all my teammates.”
