The choir will be touring from Welkom and Bloemfontein, then move to Sasolburg and Kimberley. The Heritage Tour is described “as more than just a series of concerts; it stands as a national celebration, highlighting the rich cultural tapestry of South Africa”.

The Ndlovu Youth Choir has a history of sold-out performances in large cities, but this tour focuses on visiting centres that usually miss out on such productions.

The tour will start at the beginning of September in Polokwane, before heading for Central SA.

“The audience can expect an emotional rollercoaster,” said Ndlovu Youth Choir conductor and founder Ralph Schmitt. “They are going to walk out with their hearts warm and their toes sore from dancing.

“It is going to be a beautiful celebration of this magnificent country of ours, filled with joy and happiness and optimism.”

With their production, they are trying to use music as a platform to show South Africans that they have much more in common than they think they do, he said. 

“South Africa is blessed with so many beautiful genres and styles of music, and we celebrate them individually, but we also infuse global hits with them,” said Schmitt.

The choir “stands on the shoulders of greats such as Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, and Sipho (Hotstix) Mabuse, while also celebrating local genres ranging from Cape Ghoema to Afrikaans pop, with tributes to artists like Kurt Darren and Bernice West”.

Every member of the Ndlovu Youth Choir hails from a single rural village in Limpopo. “Their journey challenges the perception that artistic excellence is confined to big cities or elite institutions.”

OFM News/Zenande Mpame cvs