Stellenbosch University’s (SU) Tygerberg residences dominated the stage at this year’s Molassesêr as all four Tygerberg teams who entered the competition proceeded to the finals.
Huis Francie van Zijl, Hippokrates Men and Enkanhoff claimed victory in their respective categories at the finals of the event, which was hosted at SU’s Wilgenhof residence on 11 March.
“I would describe [Molassesêr] as [a] story-telling [event] through acting, dialogue, dance, music, cheering and percussion,” stated Gerrard Damons, chairperson of KuKo, the Stellenbosch Student Representative Council’s (SRC) arts and culture committee.
Enkanhoff’s “Karin” character from their 2022 Molassesêr performance elicited a lot of laughter from the crowd as she was not satisfied with the Home Affairs in this performance. Enkanhoff is a collaboration between Stellenbosch University’s eNkanyini and Meerhoff residences, and claimed first place and the prize for the best script in the mixed category at this year’s Molassesêr. PHOTO: Jean-Marie Uys
This year, KuKo decided to implement a theme for the first time, according to Damons. “We chose [the theme of] identity, because I essentially wanted to push that idea back to the community in [asking] ‘What do you actually represent or, what do you understand about the concept?’,” explained Damons. This idea ties in with KuKo’s goal to ask what Stellenbosch University (SU) communities understand around “certain issues and concepts” through the committee’s projects, and to explore the answers “through art mediums”, Damons added.
According to Damons, the event is a “newcomer’s event” aimed at “establishing what your community is [and] thinks [about certain concepts] and also having all the other communities become aware of each other”.
Each category was judged separately and prizes for best script, choreography and prescribed song were also awarded, according to Damons.
Huis Francie van Zijl won the women’s category, as well as prizes for the best script and choreography in the women’s category. Hippokrates Women took third place in the women’s category. First place and the best choreography prize in the men’s category was awarded to Hippokrates Men. Enkanhoff, a collaboration between SU’s eNkanyini and Meerhoff residences, claimed first place and won the prize for the best script in the mixed category.
Huis Francie van Zijl celebrated their victory in the women’s category of this year’s Molassesêr, hosted at Wilgenhof. This Tygerberg residence was also awarded prizes for best script and choreography in the women’s category. VIDEO: Jean-Marie Uys
This year, KuKo decided to implement a theme for the first time, according to Damons. “We chose [the theme of] identity, because I essentially wanted to push that idea back to the community in [asking] ‘What do you actually represent or, what do you understand about the concept?’,” explained Damons. This idea ties in with KuKo’s goal to ask what Stellenbosch University (SU) communities understand around “certain issues and concepts” through the committee’s projects, and to explore the answers “through art mediums”, Damons added.
“What I [have] always loved about Molassesêr [is] how you can take a topic that is really important and discuss it in a way that is easy to [digest and] fun for the audience to watch,” said Carly Horstman, house committee member of Huis Francie van Zijl and head of the house’s culture portfolio.
Stellenbosch University residence Hippokrates Men won first place and the prize for the best choreography in the men’s category for their performance at this year’s Molassesêr. Their performance was an adaptation of the film Tarzan and aimed at asking the question whether “you are what your family raised you to be and what society expects you to be, or [whether] you [are] what you want to be,” said Sabelo Silangu, Hippokrates residence’s house committee member in charge of the house’s culture portfolio. PHOTO: Jean-Marie Uys
“Winning these kinds of events for Tygerberg is quite a big thing, because I was actually quite shocked at the amount of talent that these students have and sometimes they are just not given the platform to showcase their hobbies,” explained Sydney Louw, manager of eNkanyini’s culture committee.
Wiehan le Roux, a member of Hippokrates who took part in their performance, said that the residence owes their success to a great sense of camaraderie amongst the people involved in the production. “Molassesêr is nothing without each other. I have no other words, [taking part and winning] is just incredible,” said Le Roux.
Molassesêr 2022’s performances were divided into three categories and awarded placements, as well as prizes for best choreography, script and prescribed music. An overall spirit prize was awarded to Stellenbosch University residence Dagbreek. GRAPHIC: Jean-Marie Uys
