Blog The Umoya Wethu Schools Spirit Challenge: R50,000 for One South African School
Every school in South Africa is invited to sing one song their way. The winning school will receive R50,000, sponsored by Nolands, an international auditing, advisory, and law network founded in South Africa.
What is the Umoya Wethu Schools Spirit Challenge?
The Umoya Wethu Schools Spirit Challenge is a national competition run by The Lekker Network, inviting every school in South Africa to perform the song Umoya Wethu in any style they choose and share that performance publicly.
There is no entry fee and no purchase required. Entries officially close on the 31st of March 2027, and the winner will be announced at The Lekker Network Summit in April 2027.
The winning school receives R50,000, sponsored by Nolands, a school visit from Tanner Wareham, and a feature across The Lekker Network’s global community.
What does Umoya Wethu mean?
Umoya Wethu means “our spirit.” The song is performed by Tanner Wareham and Angel Mazibuko and moves between English, Afrikaans and isiZulu. It launched at The Lekker Network summit in Cape Town.
Then something happened that we did not plan. School choirs around the country started singing it. This competition exists because of that.
Who can enter the competition?
Any school operating lawfully in South Africa can enter. A school enters through one staff member, acting with the principal’s written approval. One entry per school. Learners of any age may take part, and there is no minimum or maximum number of participants.
Blog Blog How do you enter the Umoya Wethu Schools Spirit Challenge?
Step one: Perform and record. Perform Umoya Wethu in whatever form your school chooses: a choir, a war cry, a marimba band, a drumline, a dance, a brass arrangement, a beatbox version, or the whole school on the field. The performance can follow the original closely or reinterpret it entirely, as long as the song remains recognisable. Keep it under four minutes. Phone footage is welcome.
Step two: Post it publicly. Post the recording publicly on two social media platforms, one of which must be LinkedIn. Tag The Lekker Network on both, include the hashtag #UmoyaWethuChallenge, and credit the song by name and its performers, Tanner Wareham and Angel Mazibuko. Both posts must stay public until the winner is announced.
Step three: Email the links. Email both post links to [email protected], including your school’s full name, town and province, the staff contact’s details, the principal’s name and email, and the approximate number and age range of learners who took part. A post that isn’t emailed isn’t an entry. Video files, attachments and private links cannot be accepted.
What does the winning school receive?
The winning school receives three things.
- R50,000 in cash, sponsored by Nolands and paid by electronic transfer into the school’s official bank account. It is intended for the school’s music, arts or cultural activities. A school without one may use the prize to start one.
- A school visit from Tanner Wareham, arranged at a date and time agreed with the school, with travel arranged and paid for by The Lekker Network.
- A feature across The Lekker Network’s platforms and its global community of South Africans across more than 40 countries. This can be declined without affecting any other part of the prize.
How are entries judged?
Entries are scored and judged by a panel comprising Tanner Wareham, Angel Mazibuko, and the four co-founders of The Lekker Network.
The criteria are the creativity and originality of the interpretation, the spirit and energy of the performance, participation, the extent of the school’s involvement, and the connection to the song’s meaning.
Production quality, budget, and equipment are expressly not criteria for judging.
The judging is independently overseen by Legalese, attorneys appointed under regulation 11(5) of the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008.
What about consent for learners under 18?
This is the most important thing for schools to get right, and it is the school’s responsibility.
Before filming and before posting, the school must already hold parent or guardian consent for every learner under 18 who is identifiable in the recording. Any learner whose parent or guardian has not consented must not be identifiable in the entry.
Most schools already hold a photography or media consent in their admission paperwork, but these are usually scoped to the school’s own publications. Schools should check that their existing consent covers filming for this competition, public posting on social media, and the naming of The Lekker Network. If it doesn’t, a fresh consent is needed.
Full details are in the terms and conditions.
Key dates
Entries open: October 2026
Entries close: 31st of March 2027
Winner announced: The Lekker Network Summit, April 2027
Where to find the full terms
The full terms and conditions are available free of charge at any time from [email protected] and at https://thelekkernetwork.com/umoya-wethu/.
Entering the competition means the school accepts those terms in full. Schools should read them with the principal before entering.
Enter now
Sing it your way. Post it on two platforms. Email us the links at [email protected] by the 31st of March 2027.
Bring the gees.
Connect with us!
Join the network that's shaping the future of South African
business. Let’s build something lekker, together.