Ingoma Choir: 'Next Chapter', Summer Concert

Live performance from the acclaimed Ingoma Choir in the beautiful setting of Riverside Estate. Doors open at 6.20pm, and the choir is due on stage at 7pm. There will be two sections with an interval, and should be finished before 9pm. Riverside will run a paying bar with soft and alcoholic drinks, and some snacks will also be on sale. Depending on weather and numbers of attendees the concert may be inside the hall or outside in the garden. Seating will be unreserved.

Background

The Ingoma Choir is now over five years old and has established itself as one of the most successful performance choirs in the Western Cape. Based near Cape Town in the community of Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, the choir was set up to celebrate the immense beauty of African choral music while also uplifting talented singers living with all the challenges of township life. They have performed at countless weddings and other private events, appeared on national and international TV, sung backing vocals for pop stars, and starred in TV and radio adverts for Shoprite, Checkers and Spur. The music is mainly traditional, a capella choral, sung in isiXhosa and other African languages, with occasional drumming and the odd English/Western song. Expect to be transported by beautiful harmonies, ranging in tempo from slow and deeply moving to upbeat and utterly joyful. #GoosebumpsGuaranteed

There are about 25 members of the choir, men and women aged between about 16 and 45, many employed in restaurants, petrol stations and supermarkets, with others in community and teaching roles, studying at school or college, or unemployed. Since the tragic passing of Zamile Gantana during the Covid-19 pandemic, the choir has been led by Lunathi Ncamani, another highly esteemed and experienced conductor. Originally from East London, and a lecturer in African choral at Stellenbosch University, Lunathi is taking Ingoma to the 'Next Chapter', reaching new levels of maturity, musical expertise and professionalism, and planning to travel further afield to showcase their talent.