African Children’s Concert: A Stirring Experience

By Em Fergusson

The African Children’s Choir recently performed at the Robert Ferst Center in Atlanta, Georgia. The performance is part of the choir’s exciting fall tour titled, “Journey of Hope.” The children began touring October 12, 2007 and will continue to tour throughout the spring. Recently seen on various television shows including, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, American Idol and Good Morning America, the African Children’s Choir stirred the hearts of all who attended the concert.

Performances included stories of strength and survival, tales of hope and various ballads that celebrate the people, culture and joy of Africa. Comprised of children from Rwanda, Ghana, Nigeria, the Sudan, Kenya, Somalia, and South Africa, the African Children’s Choir and its parent organization Music for Life, help support almost 8,000 underprivileged children. From the “Lost Boys” of the Sudan to supporting centers for AIDS orphans in South Africa, the members of the African Children’s Choir are making a positive impact for their communities.

The program opened with an Acholi Dance from the Acholi Tribe, followed by colorful, bright and contemplative dances and acts reflecting the Baganda tribe. The acts included the ‘Fishing Song,’ ‘Hunting Song,’ and ‘Harvest Song.’ All songs share powerful stories of survival and determination. In the ‘Fishing Song,’ according to program notes provided during the concert, the story involves, “a group of fishermen on Lake Victoria have a close encounter with a crocodile as they pull in their daily catch…the leader assures them that all is well and they sail ashore to safety.”

The choir continued to dance, sing and act out stories of courage and love. Before intermission, the “dance tutorial” included the Kiganda, Rwandan, Bandi Minya Soya Maci-Lingala, Ding Dong and Ujesu Tiathoma dances from South Africa, the Congo and Rwanda. Once again, each song is a story of strength and compassion. For the past 23 years, the African Children’s Choir has performed around the world, in attempts to raise awareness of the plight of the orphaned and abandoned. As the choir members performed, their stories and that of so many other children was showcased on a large, circular screen above the stage. Images included African children in various countries, members of the choir on tour, scenes of Africa’s rich landscape and much more. With each image, the songs and dance completed the stories that were shared.

Following the intermission, the song, Homeland was sung by the choir. An original piece from the musical, Prince Of Africa, this song was especially written for the choir and was performed twice during the concert. The choir ended their repertoire with a gospel rendition of This Little Light of Mine, while flags of all African countries hung at the back of the stage.

Three former members of the choir shared their experiences of touring with the choir when they were younger. They spoke of how touring around the world and the education they were provided with, made an impact on their lives. Today, they work in their countries as professionals (one works as a journalist, the other a lawyer and the last member as an accountant). Their positive stories began with the vision of one man who has continued to work tirelessly to bring hope and a brighter future for Africa’s children.

Ray Barnett worked as a human rights activist during the early 1980s and it was on a trip to Uganda that he was inspired to do something for the thousands of orphans starving to death.

“I thought, ‘If we could take a group of these beautiful children to the West, that would surely raise money to help their country,’” recalls Ray.

Today, the “Journey of Hope” tour is hoping to raise $1.1 million by the first quarter of 2008. The goal is to create a bigger African Children’s Choir (ACC) Academy in order to meet the growing demands of children needing a place to receive a quality education. The ACC Academy will serve 400 children and will include a school, living quarters, athletic fields and much more. Currently, the organization has been providing education in a five-story building originally built to serve 50 children. However, the residence now houses 100 children and is forced to turn hundreds away. With the realization that quality education is rare within Uganda, it is the organization’s mission to provide an educational facility to realize the dream of helping Africa’s most vulnerable population.

The first African Children’s Choir began touring in 1984 and each year, a new set of eager, talented and bright young children tour the world to share their stories.

For information on supporting the children of the African Children’s Choir, visit www.africanchildrenschoir.com or call the offices at 1-877-532-8651.

The choir may be coming to a city near you!

ACC Tour Schedule

2/24/08            Houston, TX               The Alice & George Brown Theatre
2/26/08           Longview, TX              S.E. Blecher Jr. Chapel Performing Center
2/28/08           Bryan, TX                    Children’s Museum of the Brazos Valley
3/1/08             Kerrville, TX                Cailloux Center for the Performing Arts
3/26/08           Danville, KY                 Norton Center at Centre College – Newlin Hall
4/1/08             Lee’s Summit, MO        The Pavillion
4/4/08             Decatur, IL                    Kirkland Fine Arts Center – Millikin University
4/5/08             University Park, IL         Center For Performing Arts
4/6/08             Grayslake, IL                 James Lumber College for the Performing Arts
4/8/08             Eau Claire, WI               Zorn Arena – UW Eau Claire
4/10/08           Appleton, WI                 Fox Cities Performing Arts Center
4/12/08           East Lansing, MI            Wharton Center for Performing Arts
4/13/08           Detroit, MI                     Orchestra Hall at Max. M Fischer Music Center
4/15/08           Whitewater, WI              Irvin L. Young Auditorium
4/17/08           Wausau, WI                   Grand Theater on ARTSblock
4/20/08           Platteville, WI                 Center for the Arts Concert Hall
4/22/08           Madison, WI                  Overture Center for the Arts

For further information on the choir and its tour dates, visit www.africanchildrenschoir.com