Soweto Gospel Choir • Tuesday, January 24, 2012
When it comes to vocal talent, Africa, and more particularly South Africa, has spawned the most evocative sounds on earth and still produces the very best that the world has to offer in this art form. Soweto Gospel Choir is that very best.
Expect earthy rhythms, rich harmonies, acapella numbers as well as accompaniment by an exciting 4 piece band and percussion section. Add to this, energetic dancing and vibrant, colourful costumes, and the mix is awesome. This young dynamic choir performs both traditional and contemporary music, adding its own unique feel and interpretation to both. The choir performs in 6 of South Africa’s 11 official languages.
This magnificent 52 strong, choir, styled with a contemporary feel, leaves all who hear it stunned with emotion. It is small wonder that they are charting a meteoric rise to international fame. Those that saw the 46664 Concert in Cape Town 2003, under the auspices of former President Nelson Mandela, will have witnessed Soweto Gospel Choir in action alongside other musical greats like Bono; Queen; Anastacia; Peter Gabriel; Jimmy Cliff; and the Eurythmics.
Wherever Soweto Gospel Choir has performed, be it Europe, Singapore, Australia, the UK or the US it has wowed audiences. At the Edinburgh Festival it was the top selling show, with a fully booked season and five star reviews. It was listed as the critics’ choice in all major publications. In September 2004 Soweto Gospel Choir performed three concerts at the Royal Festival Hall in London, followed by a countrywide UK tour. In November/December of that year, the choir completed a sell-out tour of Spain, followed by performances in Berlin, Stuttgart and Hamburg.
Another exciting and memorable occasion for the choir, was at Sun City on New Year’s Eve, where they performed for Oprah Winfrey and 200 of her V.I.P. guests, including Mariah Carey, Mary J Blige, Tina Turner, Patti Labelle, Sydney Poitier and Quincy Jones.
26 members of the choir left for a three month tour of the US and Canada in January 2007, having begun this tour with a guest appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno’, the highest rating late night talk show in America, so an immense privilege for the choir. While in New Orleans, they recorded a track with rock legend Robert Plant, to be included on a tribute album of Fats Domino songs, with proceeds going to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
The remaining 26 members performed at the CAF Awards in Ghana on 1 March, followed by sold-out concerts at the Adelaide Festival, the Hong Kong Festival and in Korea in mid March. They then travelled to Mauritius to sing at Sol Kerzner’s daughter’s wedding, alongside top US gospel star Bebe Waynans. In March they performed in Adelaide, Hong Kong and Korea and in July they sang for former President Nelson Mandela and Kofi Anan at the 4th Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture in Johannesburg.
In June this year, Soweto Gospel Choir was one of the supporting acts for the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at their concerts in Germany, followed by a featured appearance at the London Festival and performances throughout the UK, as well as in Sweden. They then returned home for their first national tour in September, premiering their third show “African Spirit” to enthusiastic audiences in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Port Elizabeth.
Content Copyright © Soweto Gospel Choir, All Rights Reserved• Photo Credits: Jay Town