Imagine growing up in an African orphanage or isolated village suffering the depths of poverty with little hope for the future. Then one day someone recognizes your singing and dancing ability and invites you to audition for the African Children’s Choir. Suddenly, the world opens up and you travel to distant lands beyond your wildest dreams.
African Children’s Choir “Journey of Hope”
Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts
When: 4 p.m. April 11
Info: $21 to $42; 703-993-2787; gmu.edu/cfa
This happened to Tilas Kyende 20 years ago. Today he is one of two chaperones overseeing 23 children on a yearlong tour of the United States. The choir’s “Journey of Hope” arrives in Fairfax Sunday with an uplifting program that displays the dignity, beauty, talent and promise of children who once were overlooked.
The choir was founded in 1984 by human rights activist Ray Barnett who selected children orphaned during the war in Uganda. Since then, subsequent choirs of needy children have performed in Great Britain, Canada, the United States and many other countries. They have been featured on major TV programs in this country and appeared with Paul McCartney in London and at Nelson Mandela’s AIDS awareness concert in South Africa. Funding for the tours comes from their performances and well-wishers throughout the world.
“Acting as their chaperone is a wonderful experience for the children and for me,” Kyende said. “It’s nice to see how it was when I was young, to teach them about other places in the world and to help them prepare for life. They present one to two shows a week and spend three days a week in school where we teach them and help them prepare for advanced education.
“All the children sing and dance and during the show they take the audience on a journey to Africa. They come from many different countries, among them Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda and South Africa. People are surprised to discover that the music and dances from each country are very different.”
Like Kyende and other members of past choirs, each child in this choir will return to Africa and be educated in whatever field he or she chooses. The roster of past members includes doctors, lawyers, engineers, business and political leaders and professional singers. In 2008, Kyende graduated with a degree in business. At the close of this tour, he will go back home to Kenya and start his own business.
The concert at George Mason University will feature gospel music in English, songs in more than 10 languages and exciting dances from throughout the African continent.
“We want the audience to realize that, despite its many problems, Africa has potential,” Kyende said. “These children from the poorest of circumstances are not only talented, but they can grow up to become leaders and make a new world for others.”
