And the winners of Mr & Miss NMMU are ...

From examinations to international netball; from graduation to pop concerts; from award dinners to exhibitions … Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University’s Vodacom Indoor Sports Centre has hosted them all.

But none is as loud or entertaining as the Mr & Miss NMMU pageant.

The University hosted the 2014 annual event starring 12 male and 12 female students before a packed and appreciative audience on Saturday 11 October. The contestants were joined by other stars, talented NMMU students who sang, danced and performed, along with South African poster boy for good looks and great brains, Maps Mapayane, as the MC.

And then there was Naak MusiQ, aka Anga Makubalo, who has taken the house music scene by storm – as was evident when students rushed the stage to get closer to the multi-talented singer and Generations actor.

(That I had never heard of Naak MusiQ, who was actually born in New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, is beside the point. As a 50-something white woman, I am not the target audience. Our students, the majority of whom are black, loved him).

The build-up to the event was well marketed via Madibaz Radio and social media, and involved professional photo shoots, and the show itself was slick, professional and worthy of the support it received. Word has it that the contestants rehearsed until 4am before the show, returning at 1pm for the big event.

Almost all 4000 seats were filled towards the end of the event as students gathered in preparation for the after-party.

But the show ran very late.

Though the posters advertised the event as starting at 5.30pm, and we were advised to come before 6pm, the show only started at 7.45pm, and had not finished by midnight.

“It’s called African time,” whispered an NMMU student who’d seen us arrive on time.

I may not have heard of Naak MusiQ, but I know something of “African time” since I live here. It’s just that my punctual Western upbringing can’t easily embrace it. But hey, this is the students’ show, not mine, and none seemed perturbed about the late hour or choice of candidates. See video link for the 2014 line-up http://ow.ly/CEzjI to view the contestants. These young ambassadors did the university proud.

Winner’s list:

Mr NMMU: Odwa Masiza, a first-year Economics student

Miss NMMU: Siphosethu Mdodana, a third-year Management student

Lusanda Msebi took the title of first princess and Sibulule Peter Second princess.

Kgosietsile Foko was first prince and Tando Mabija,second prince.

Viewer’s choice awards went to Matamela Livhoyi and Kelly Lewis (jointly) and Odwa Masiza.

Mr & Miss Personality were Sibusiso Nqini and Matamela Livhoyi