We invite you to listen to the best South African Music online and discover the best South Africa Music.
The 26-strong Soweto Gospel choir, whose members have been handpicked from the church choirs of South Africa's famous township, Soweto*, knows how to make its audience feel all right.
International audiences have been raving about these township-born harmonizers for quite some and can't get enough of their enthusiastic performances, colourful attire, lively onstage antics and contagious fervour.
The Soweto Gospel Choir has been heralded as one of the most exciting groups to emerge within the World Music scene in years. Oprah Magazine recently wrote about them, saying: "Soweto Gospel Choir makes our world seem beautifully small...The 26-member group performs in six languages, blending traditional hymns, Western pop, and their native South African harmonies into a singularly, joyful sound."
The choir, has a lot to sing about at the moment: Apart from having recently won a Grammy in the World Music category for their album, Blessed, this talented group of musicians have shared a stage with musical icons like Bono, Peter Gabriel, Queen, Diana Ross and Jimmy Cliff, performed to sold out audiences throughout the world and performed at the Carnegie Hall to a venue had been booked out six months in advance.
The ensemble has also appeared on countless iconic television talk shows like The Today Show and Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
Their new album, African Spirit, was released in 2007 and according to their official website: The album is an "exotic collection of moving traditional South African spiritual music, South African pop, American gospel and popular inspirational songs from around the world. The choir's honey toned harmonies, rich interwoven vocal textures and driving rhythmic patterns are instantly arresting and pleasing".
The group's electric live shows feature them singing and dancing to a wide range of classics: From cover versions of Gospel greats like 'Oh Happy Day' and 'Amazing Grace'; to South African classics like 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' and Ladysmith Black Mambazo's 'Homeless' and iconic pop songs like Bob Marley's composition of 'One Love' and Jimmy Cliff's 'Many Rivers to Cross' -each song given a gospel arrangement.
Despite their snowballing success, the choir is committed to giving back to their community. They are ambassadors for Mandela's AIDS foundation and recently founded their own aids orphan foundation - Nkosi's Haven Vukani. The foundation endeavours to support organisations and families that receive little or no government support.
So, whatever your culture; whatever your faith - give thanks and praise to the Soweto Gospel Choir and let them make you feel all right.
"One love, one heart
Let's get together and feel all right
As it was in the beginning (One love)
So shall it be in the end (One heart)
Alright, Give thanks and praise to the Lord and I will feel all right"
- Bob Marley, One Love
When Bob Marley crooned the lyrics of "One Love" he might as well have been singing about South Africa's Soweto Gospel Choir.
Molo says: "Read more about the South African music online on CapeTownMagazine.com. We enjoy bringing you up-to-date with the best contemporary South African music.
Read about and listen to local South African music online CapeTownMagazine.com every month: From the soulful sounds of Ringo and Hugh Masakela to the vibey beats of Goldfish and Cape Town 2AM.
Why not make The Soweto Gospel Choir's album 'Blessed' the soundtrack to your South African holiday? Would you like any of the music that you discovered on CapeTownMagazine.com in your car on arrival? We can add the South African CD of your choice to one of our accommodation specials".
