Soweto Gospel Choir to fight poverty through music.
By Afronline -The Voice of Africa.
South Africa. The Soweto Gospel Choir – in the video playing Bob Dylan’s song ‘I’ll remember you’ – will collaborate with seven other African musicians to produce a song highlighting the importance of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The song will be performed and released in June during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
The song is called “8 Goals for Africa” and forms part of the UN’s campaign to urge governments to recommit themselves to achieving those goals. It also aims to entrench and expand awareness of the importance of the MDGs.
The song is called “8 Goals for Africa” and forms part of the UN’s campaign to urge governments to recommit themselves to achieving those goals. It also aims to entrench and expand awareness of the importance of the MDGs.
Eight African musicians – one for each development goal – have been contracted to record and perform the song. Apart from the Soweto Gospel Choir, the other musicians include Yvonne Chaka-Chaka, Hip-Hop Pantsula, Oliver Mutukudzi, Mingas, Wainaina, Baba Maal and Angélique Kidjo. South African jazz maestro, Hugh Masekela, will be playing his signature trumpet. The organisers say a score of other African artists will also be involved.
A 26-member ensemble, the Soweto Gospel Choir has an international appeal because of the nature and arrangement of their songs in diverse African languages. They have a vast repertoire and have bagged a number accolades and reached several milestones. Their latest album, Grace, was released in the United Stated in early January and is receiving rave reviews.
This is the second time this year that the Soweto Gospel Choir has featured on a music project of this stature. It recently performed on a collaboration track with rhythm and blues singer Akon and newcomer Keri Hilson, to raise funds for African children.
The choir has also collaborated with numerous other famous musicians, such as Celine Dion, Peter Gabriel, Thomas Newman, U2’s Bono, Vusi Mahlasela, Johnny Clegg, Diana Ross, Josh Groban, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Jimmy Cliff and Bebe Winans, to mention a few.