{"id":72766,"date":"2021-04-02T13:14:02","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T13:14:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southafricaportal.com\/?p=72766"},"modified":"2021-04-02T13:14:02","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T13:14:02","slug":"african-childrens-choir","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southafricaportal.com\/african-childrens-choir\/","title":{"rendered":"African Children\u2019s Choir Songs, Tour, Net Worth & Youtube"},"content":{"rendered":"

African Children\u2019s Choir Songs, Tour, Net Worth & Youtube<\/b><\/u><\/p>\n

The\u00a0African Children\u2019s Choir\u00a0is a large\u00a0choir\u00a0made up of children ages 7 to 12 from several African nations. Since its inception, the choir has included children from\u00a0Uganda,\u00a0Kenya,\u00a0Rwanda,\u00a0South Africa,\u00a0Nigeria, and\u00a0Ghana.<\/p>\n

Many of the children have lost one or both parents to AIDS and other poverty-related diseases, and all of them are victims of extreme poverty. The choir is a Christian organization and one of its principles (from its web site) is \u201cinstilling Christian principles through teaching and leading by example.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"African<\/a><\/p>\n

Background<\/h2>\n

The choir was founded in 1984 by Ray Barnett. Barnett was traveling in war-torn Uganda when he gave a small boy a ride from his destroyed home to a safer village. During their journey, the child did what he knew how to do best \u2013 he sang. That simple song of dignity and hope became the catalyst for a program that has changed the lives of thousands of children. From there the African Children\u2019s Choir was born.<\/p>\n

Rallying support from the west, Barnett conducted the first tour, in 1984. As the organization grew so did the needs of the children. The choir began selecting Kenyan children in 1990. By 2002, the first South African choir toured in North America. Music for Life has now facilitated over forty tours through the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.<\/p>\n

The choir serves as the main fundraising branch for its parent organization, Music For Life Institute, with proceeds from the choir\u2019s work used to fund Christian education and relief efforts for African children affected by poverty and disease.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Performances<\/h2>\n

The choir has released a number of albums and DVDs over the years, and has performed at major events and venues around the world. The choir has appeared at the British House of Commons and the Pentagon, at some of the world\u2019s most prestigious halls, including the Royal Albert Hall, the London Palladium, the International Club of Berlin and the Palais des Beaux Arts in Brussels, Belgium. They also performed with Christian music legend, Bill Gaither in his Gaither Homecoming series.<\/p>\n

In 2005, the choir achieved increased worldwide visibility through several highly publicized performances. They performed at the\u00a0Live 8 concert in London\u00a0with\u00a0Mariah Carey, and were featured on\u00a0The Tonight Show\u00a0and\u00a0The Ellen DeGeneres Show. In 2006, they performed at an event for\u00a0one.org\u00a0and before the United Nations for its\u00a0UNAIDS\u00a0summit. In December 2006, they made a second appearance on\u00a0The Tonight Show.<\/p>\n

The choir has also recorded songs for the soundtracks of major motion pictures including\u00a0Oprah Winfrey\u2019s\u00a0Beloved,\u00a0Hotel Rwanda\u00a0and\u00a0Blood Diamond.<\/p>\n

The African Children\u2019s Choir currently has two choirs on tour in the United Kingdom and Canada. These Choirs are composed of children from\u00a0Uganda.<\/p>\n

The choir sang during the\u00a0Canadian Idol\u00a0season 4\u00a0finale.<\/p>\n

On 25 April 2007, they performed as part of\u00a0American Idol\u2019s\u00a0Idol Gives Back, singing \u201cYou Raise Me Up\u201d with\u00a0Josh Groban. They also performed on the finale of\u00a0American Idol\u00a0season 6\u00a0at the\u00a0Kodak Theatre\u00a0on 23 May 2007.<\/p>\n

The African Children\u2019s choir was featured in broadcasts and podcasts celebrating 2007\u00a0World Party Day.<\/p>\n

In 2007, the choir performed with the band\u00a0Dispatch\u00a0for three sold-out concerts at\u00a0Madison Square Garden\u00a0in New York. The African Children\u2019s Choir toured in Australia at the Queensland Youth Symphony at Queensland Music Festival.1999<\/p>\n

The choir appears on\u00a0Michael W. Smith\u2019s 2008 album\u00a0A New Hallelujah, which was live recorded during a\u00a0worship\u00a0concert in\u00a0Houston.<\/p>\n

In 2008, the choir sang for former President George W. Bush and recorded with Michael W. Smith. On 29 September 2009, the choir celebrated their 25th Anniversary at the Hotel Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, where the choir held their first performance 25 years before. Special guests at the event included Bob Geldof who used to live in Vancouver where he used to work for the Georgia Straight, Paul Rodgers and Michael McDonald.<\/p>\n

Also in 2009, the choir performed for Her Majesty,\u00a0Queen Elizabeth II\u00a0and Ugandan President\u00a0Yoweri Museveni\u00a0at Commonwealth Day in London, England.\u00a0Alicia Keys\u00a0sang with the choir at Black Ball Gala.<\/p>\n

The choir sang for US Global Leadership Coalition honoring former First Lady and Senator\u00a0Hillary Clinton. The choir sang \u201cAll You Need is Love\u201d for the\u00a0Playing for Change\u00a0Campaign.<\/p>\n

In 2010, The choir was featured on \u201cA Christmas Cornucopia\u201d with\u00a0Annie Lenox.<\/p>\n

The choir were part of the \u201cCommonwealth Band\u201d who performed with the\u00a0Military Wives\u00a0at the\u00a0Diamond Jubilee Concert\u00a0in 2012. The choir also performed with two other choirs from the United States and France singing \u201cWhat a Wonderful World\u201d for the\u00a0Playing for Change\u00a0campaign.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Programs in Africa<\/h2>\n

Other than the touring Choir, which is the primary fundraising and awareness program of the organization, Music for Life operate several programs in Africa:<\/p>\n

<\/span>Music for Life Centers<\/h3>\n

The Music for Life program runs in 12 Centers, (10 in South Africa, 2 in\u00a0Uganda), where they work with approximately 50 children in each center. These children have either been orphaned by AIDS, or have parents that can no longer care for and provide for them, or who are in the care of aged grandparents who are unable to effectively care for them. Music for Life Centers provides music, dance, life skills, as well as nutrition and education (many of the centers are actually based in schools).<\/p>\n

<\/span>African Children\u2019s Choir Primary Schools<\/h3>\n

These are schools that have been developed for African Children\u2019s Choir participants. The children in these schools have all been on tour and are selected for their musical ability, academic potential and have been orphaned and\/or come from vulnerable situations.<\/p>\n

The schools build upon the experiences these children have had while on tour and continue to further develop these children\u2019s talents and abilities while providing the support of a family.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Community Primary Schools<\/h3>\n

These schools are part of the Music for Life Program that assists children (who are not in the choir) and their communities. These schools have either been built by, or have been financially supported by sponsors.<\/p>\n

The first of these schools was the African Outreach Academy in Uganda, which served as a community support model in 1984 and was the original home of the African Children\u2019s Choir.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Teachers Training College<\/h3>\n

In Sudan, where the infrastructure was decimated by civil war, Music For Life is rebuilding the educational system by providing training for new teachers throughout the country.<\/p>\n

<\/span>12 Million Orphans<\/h3>\n

12 Million Orphans is an educational campaign representing the over 12 million orphans in sub-Saharan Africa. The program lobbies and cares for some of these children, provides information on this vulnerable sector, and focuses the world\u2019s attention on their issues. The main program to reach these children is the Music for Life Centers.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Current programs supported by the work of the choir<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Uganda: Makerere Choir Training Academy; African Children\u2019s Choir Primary School; Music for Life Centers; Music for Life Camps; Child Sponsorship.<\/li>\n
  • South Sudan: 15 primary schools in Kajo Keji county; established Bright Star Academy Secondary School; Liwolo Secondary School; Kajo Keji Teacher\u2019s Training College; Mobile Health Clinic; Skills Training Center; relief shipments and leadership training seminars.<\/li>\n
  • Kenya: Child sponsorship; Music for Life camps; counseling and seminars<\/li>\n
  • Rwanda: Child sponsorship; sponsorship of the Gisimba Central Orphanage; Music for Life camps, counseling and seminars<\/li>\n
  • Nigeria: Counseling, camps, seminars and sponsorship for former and present choir members<\/li>\n
  • Ghana: Counseling, camps, seminars and sponsorship for former and present choir members<\/li>\n
  • South Africa: Established 10 Music for Life centers and the African Children\u2019s Choir Junior Academy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n