Several traditional leaders have welcomed the launch of the Collins Chabane Cultural Festival, saying it will help preserve the legacy of the late cabinet minister.

Well-known showbiz promoter King Chauke, in partnership with the Chabane family, launched the project at the Giyani Oasis Hotel last Tuesday. It is scheduled to become an annual event.

Hosi Pheni Ngove of the Mabunda tribe was one of the people who had a lot of praise for the initiative. “Looking at how great a man Chabane was, it is fitting to see something being done to preserve his legacy,” said Hosi Ngove. He said it was important that the family must be the custodians of the project.

King Chauke remarked that he had learnt a lot from the late minister. “Chabane, just like he was in politics, was also a musical icon who was recognised by both the SABC Limpopo’s Munghana Lonene FM and the South African Music Rights Organisation,” he said. As a musician Chabane received several accolades.

Chauke said the annual Collins Chabane Music Festival will be directed by him and former Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Brian Baloyi. It will start off with primary events aimed at unearthing talent in music and dance categories and will culminate in the main event being held in April every year. For the first year, it will end with a match between the Kaizer Chiefs Legends and the Limpopo Legends. The event is scheduled to be staged at Malamulele Stadium.

Hosi Busa Nxumalo of the Ndwandwe tribe, who is the chairman of the Vhembe House of Traditional Leaders, said he and his fellow traditional leaders supported the project. “Chabane worked closely with traditional leaders and when he died he was (on his way back) from the funeral of my father,” said Nxumalo. He said anything that would see Chabane being remembered after his death was worth supporting.