African Children’s Choir performing in Brandon on North American tour

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This article was published 22/08/2017 (3210 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TheAfricanChildren’s Choir will perform in Brandon next month, marking their first Canadian stop on the group’s North American tour.

Nineteen Ugandan children, between the ages of 8-10, will bring their talents to Richmond Park Mennonite Brethren Church on Sept. 6 at 7 p.m.

“It’s a combination of contemporary Christian, gospel inspirational favourites, and African worship music,” said choir manager Tina Sipp. The 80-minute musical program also features traditional dance, bright costumes and a 17-piece drum ensemble.

In addition to a vibrant performance, the group brings a humanitarian message. The non-profit humanitarian and relief organization raises funds to help Africa’s most vulnerable children. Music for Life, which is the parent organization for theAfricanChildren’s Choir, works in sevenAfricancountries: Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and SouthAfrica.

The choir began in 1984, in the midst of Uganda’s civil war. Human rights activist Ray Barnett was called on to help children who were orphaned due to the conflict.

“On one of those trips he gave a ride to a little boy, who had actually lost both of his parents in the civil war,” Sipp said. “The little boy sang praise songs … and Ray was so moved by this little boy’s resiliency and hope, even in spite of dire tragedy.”

Sipp explained the view Ray had at the time: “If the West could just see the beauty, potential and dignity of the African child, they’d want to help.”

In the early years of the project, the focus was on building orphanages and keeping the children safe. It has since morphed to focus on providing education to African children.

“We’re not in a war-torn country anymore, but we’re in very impoverished countries, and education is very, very difficult,” Sipp said.

Music for Life now has 35 educational programs across seven countries.

Allyson Neufeld, office administrater at Richmond Park Mennonite Brethren Church, said the local church is thrilled to welcome the young performers.

“Our children’s ministry here is thriving and we want to pour into that,” she said. “To see these children that just come from nothing, and they have so much joy and positivity … it’s just important for us to be able to minister to them as well.”

She encourages the public to come out to the event, to learn about the group and listen to the gifted performers. There is no fee to attend the concert, but donations are welcome.

This North American tour started in the United States on April 18. The group will make stops in South Dakota, Minnesota and North Dakota this month before crossing the border into Canada. After Brandon’s show, they will head to Portage la Prairie (Sept. 8), Winnipeg (Sept.10), Niverville (Sept.10) and Thunder Bay, Ont. (Sept. 17).

They will continue in Quebec and Ontario before heading back to the U.S. The tour wraps up in Texas on Dec. 24.

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