THOHOYANDOU – As a way of paying tribute to the famous local choral music composer, Mr Derrick Nephawe, Phalaphala FM radio station in conjunction with the SABC music department staged a historic choir festival at the Thohoyandou Town Hall last Sunday.

The MEC for Safety and Security of Limpopo, Mrs Dikeledi Magadzi appealed to Mr Nephawe and other choral music composers to contribute towards crime prevention by composing the anti-crime songs. She praised Nephawe, a retired teacher for the contribution he made towards community development.

Nephawe was born at Tshakhuma 72 years ago. He started teaching in 1952. He was not just a composer but also a choir conductor and a coach for choir conductors during his heydays. Mr Nephawe has composed more than twenty songs that were sung both at primary and secondary schools from the early seventies into the late eighties. Some of the songs that he composed include Milamboni ya Babele, Zwo nndina, Tanganedzani vhaeni and Ndi a tuwa ndi ya ha khotsi anga.

The station manager of Phalaphala FM, Mr Victor Ravhuanzwo handed over a cheque of R5 000, a trophy and a certificate to Mr Nephawe. Several choirs including Mbilwi Lutheran Church choir, Virtuoso Singers, Belcanto Chorale and Thohoyandou Lutheran Church shared the stage during the festival.