Khayelitsha’s youth choir uses music to uplift their community and inspire hope, tackling social challenges with powerful voices.

Khayelitsha

In Khayelitsha, Cape Town, the Tanda Choir, composed of 35 young members, uses music to uplift and inspire their community. Founded two years ago, the choir blends traditional African hymns with messages of hope, offering a creative outlet and support for youth in an area affected by crime and unemployment.

The choir has gained international attention, including an invitation to perform in Paris and contributing to a locally produced film that received an Oscar nomination. Members express pride in their cultural heritage and hope for a future shaped by music, as they look forward to securing a dedicated rehearsal space.

South African youth choir uplifts community through music

In the heart of Khayelitsha, ancient African hymns are reborn, carried by the voices of the young. This song praises God, a heartfelt offering rising from streets often overshadowed by struggle and hardship. The 35-member Tanda Choir was brought together two years ago by founders who believed in the power of music to uplift, heal and transform. Among them is Lisakanya Mahajana, the choir's music director and co-founder. He composed this song, a stirring blend of tradition and hope. We sing music in our language to express who we are and whoever wants to join us can join us. Whoever wants to listen to our music can listen. It doesn't matter if you understand or don't, but we have to feel the music. The founders see this choir as more than a creative space, it's a lifeline, a way to nurture raw talent in a community scarred by crime and unemployment. While the choir uses any space it can find at the moment, including backyards, they're looking forward to a dedicated space within the next six months that they can call their own. Tanda Choir found an unexpected stage through social media. A French artist discovered their sound online and invited them to tour Paris last June. For the 14 members who travelled, it was their first time outside South Africa. It was very exciting and scary at the very same time, being away from home and whilst you're away from home, meeting new people that you don't know, that they don't understand your language. 26-year-old Zinzi Mazoto has been singing since she was 10. She hopes that whatever her future holds, it's rooted in song. Their talent has already reached remarkable heights, composing the score for a locally produced film that earned an Oscar nomination. And for young voices like this nine-year-old girl, the future holds more than promise, it sings with possibility. Famida Mila, Al Jazeera, Kailitsa, Cape Town.

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