2019 Inter-Hostel Singing Competition Champions
SPIRIT NEVER DIES
After weeks of preparation, The Day of Reckoning finally arrived. The evening of 5th October, 2019, was no ordinary one: a mass of excited students proudly arrayed in blue, red, green, and yellow, gathered in the Margaret Nkrumah Hall to valiantly bid for the title of 2019 Inter-Hostel Singing Competition Champions.
Seeing the resplendently attired students, one could be excused for pre-judging a winner based on the gorgeous African-themed choir uniforms. However, the judges had more technical benchmarks in mind as they listened keenly for pitch and melody; observed coordination; and marvelled at the expert conducting.
The Vikings had the whole auditorium spell-bound by their magical stagecraft as strong, confident voices led the audience through a selection from the timeless score of the Lion King. The Spartans were not to be left behind, as sombre melodies from “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, coupled with a premier outfitting in white with blue, possibly signalled the Spartan faith in a victorious destination.
By the time all four choirs had poured out soul and spirit through song and craft; the air was thick with suspense, with staff, parents, alumni, and all gathered, starting to surmise who the victors would be. A record turnout of parents and guardians meant more people to impress: people who would perhaps finally understand what it meant to bleed blue, red, green, or yellow. Every year on the night of the singing competition, it is no longer enough to be a proud student of SOS-HGIC. On this particular Bella Notte, your pride is your hostel group and nothing else.
As results were collated, the Indomitable Trojans broke into spontaneous cheers to encourage the yellow-clad students, whilst the Mighty Titans nervously nibbled their fingernails. Viking cheers could be heard from as far a distance as the VALCO flats, whilst the Spartan conductors swished their majestic robes in a show of strength and conviction that the trophy was theirs for the taking.
INDEED, WHICH GROUP WAS GOING TO ENJOY THE COVETED BRAGGING RIGHTS FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR?
Suddenly, the auditorium erupted with the sound of cheers and jubilation. Parents, guardians, siblings, and even staff, joined the celebratory dance as the Spartans raised their voices as one, in the victorious chant:
AWUH!
What a night! The jubilation continued late that night and all through Sunday, with students donning their hostel colours and pronouncing congratulatory messages in the Dining Hall. Seniors encouraged Juniors to continue to raise high the torches of the hostel groups, not only through the Singing Competition, but also in Sports and Hostel Inspections.
Suddenly, every javelin thrown; every baton passed on; every corridor scrubbed; and every flower tended, took on new meaning: formerly mundane tasks were actually stepping stones to GLORY.
The newly-exalted Spartans, reckoning that the white did the trick, strode confidently through the hostels in groups, reminiscent of the assurance of a calm blue ocean, punctuated by the occasional roar of majestic white waves. For all the winners (first, second, third and fourth alike), one thing remained abundantly clear from the weekend: SPIRIT NEVER DIES.
By Marilyn Amoa & Ruth Botsio, AWUH!
