29 February 2016

Las Vegas’s bright lights beckon for township magicians!

Submitted by: Fazielah Williams
Las Vegas’s bright lights beckon for township magicians!

College of Magic drives fundraising campaign to raise R70 000 to get teen wizards to magic convention

The bright lights of Las Vegas, Nevada in the USA, the entertainment and magic capital of the world, beckons for two of Cape Town’s top township magicians Anelisa Ntlonti and Qaqambile Mnqika, who have been invited to perform at the prestigious Magic Live convention from 14 to 17 August, 2016.

The talented teen wizards, representatives of the College of Magic, Cape Town’s only magical arts organisation, are set to appear alongside their global counterparts at Magic Live, one of the world’s premier magic events and a gathering of magic’s greatest performers.

Whilst it’s a great honour for two of the Mother City’s rising magic stars to be chosen for this impressive magic event, getting Anelisa (19) from Mitchell’s Plain and Qaqambile (15) from  Khayelitsha to Las Vegas will cost over R 70 000 – funds they are sorely lacking. The College of Magic has taken up the challenge of making the captivating duo’s dreams come true by running a uniquely charming fundraising campaign aimed at spreading the magic amongst those less fortunate – for every R2000 or more donated by the public and private companies, Anelisa and Qaqambile will perform at a charity outreach show in the donors’ names!

Celebrating 36 years of teaching the art of magic and its allied arts to children and adults, the College of Magic, a non-profit organisation and the only one of its kind in the world, is determined to realise Anelisa and Qaqambile’s dreams:

“Our organisation is passionate about uplifting the disadvantaged youth through the art of magic and recognising those who exceed expectations with amazing opportunities to perform internationally.

Their attendance at this incredible global event affords Anelisa and Qaqambile the chance to not only see more of the world for the first time but network with their magical idols and peers and learn incredible new things about the art of performance.

In spite of the numerous social and economic challenges they face in their daily lives, these youngsters embody excellence, humility and initiative, qualities that the College of Magic holds dear. They are without a doubt most deserving representatives for our organisation” says David Gore, founder and director of the College.

Travelling overseas to broaden their horizons, let alone performing in the entertainment capital of the word is something Anelisa and Qaqambile have only ever imagined.

Anelisa is a graduate of the College of Magic and assists with the organisation’s feeding scheme for disadvantaged students. A Glendale High learner in the gang-ridden Mitchell’s Plain with dreams of furthering her studies in interior design, the alluring magicienne is quite the trailblazer in the local magic community. Anelisa competed against many of her male counterparts to snag the 2015 South African Magic Championships bronze award in Close-Up Magic at GrandWest – an achievement of which both she and the College of Magic were extremely proud.

The quick-fingered illusionist is thrilled about being selected to represent her country in the USA:

“I sometimes have to pinch myself to make sure it’s real – I can hardly believe that I will be flying for the first time AND performing in Las Vegas! I hope to make my family and South Africa proud!”

Qaqambile’s tale is one many of us are all too familiar with – a bright, young student being raised in a single parent family struggling to make ends meet in the heart of a poverty-stricken township. Yet he hasn’t let these circumstances deter his love for performing magic. An ardent student of the magical arts who regularly donates his time and skills to the College’s charity show programme, Qaqambile won the coveted College of Magic Course Five Overall Student of the Year award, claiming its esteemed Siegfried and Roy Scholarship prize.

The kind-hearted budding showman and aspirant doctor is in awe of the prospect of taking to a Las Vegas stage:

“Travelling to Las Vegas is every magician’s dream! To be selected by the College of Magic as its and South Africa’s representative is an honour, a privilege and a huge responsibility."

Help us get Anelisa and Qaqambile to Las Vegas:

The public is invited to help the College of Magic make these deserving teens’ ultimate magical dream come true by supporting this initiative. If you or your company are in a position to assist – please make contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Remember, that in return for the support, Anelisa and Qaqambile will share their magic with those less fortunate at a charity outreach show in your names!

Support this initiative and make these youngsters’ once-in-a-lifetime dream a reality as they proudly carry the South African flag to the USA. For more information about the College of Magic and its social outreach initiatives, please visit www.collegeofmagic.com or call +27(0)21 683 5480.