Flash Mob first for P-E

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth has staked a claim to being the first university in South Africa to stage a flash mob.

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) in Port Elizabeth has staked a claim to being the first university in South Africa to stage a flash mob successfully.

A flash mob is defined on Wikipedia as “a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment and/or satire””.

NMMU’s award-winning choir pulled off the stunt at Greenacres Shopping Centre in the city to promote the university’s closing date campaign for undergraduate studies in 2012.

That is somewhat structured and formal as flash mobs go, and Wits Univeristy has been known for giant pillow-fights on its lawns, but NMMU earns the credit for the high quality of the event.

“”The opportunities of this new viral marketing initiative has even greater scope ‚ that of promoting Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University around the globe,”” the university said in a statement. “”We’re aiming for a million views on YouTube.””

The video made of the event can be viewed at www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iIFqHMOE1g

The 55-member NMMU choir describes itself in being multi-cultural in both membership and the music it performs, with an ability to successfully interpret both Western and African repertoire.

The choir has enjoyed numerous national and international invitations and successes, including performances before President Nelson Mandela and Queen Elizabeth II.

“”This year the choir is very privileged to be selected as one of 24 choirs (chosen from 120 choirs from five continents) as the only choir from South Africa to perform at the prestigious IFCM’s 9th World Choral Symposium in Puerto Madryn, Argentina in August 2011.””

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