South African group Ndlovu Youth Choir reinvents itself despite pandemic
Audio 01:32
South African group Ndlovu Youth Choir during recordings on May 21, 2020 at their studio in Moutse Valley.
© Jerome Delay / AP
Text by: RFI Follow
4 min
A year ago, on March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the global Covid-19 pandemic.
The planet was going to barricade itself.
A sudden stop, especially for artists accustomed to traveling the world.
But also a source of inspiration and an opportunity to reinvent itself for the Ndlovu Youth Choir, a group of young South African musicians.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg,
Romain Chanson
The words of "
Jaba Jaba
" echo in the empty amphitheater of Moutse.
This song by the Ndlovu Youth Choir was written to convince us to get vaccinated.
Artists have a role to play during the pandemic, explains chorister Thuilisile Masanabo.
“
As a musician we can help spread the word, encourage people to get vaccinated.
Because often a song is worth a thousand words.
"
"
Write a new directory"
Following this logic, the Ndlovu Youth Choir has released themed songs for a year.
A music tutorial on how to properly wash your hands, a warning message against rumors.
The free time granted by the pandemic has been productive, explains Artistic Director Ralf Schmidt.
“
We took the opportunity to write a new repertoire, to refine the choreographies to work with new soloists, but also to produce new songs which were released on an album released last year.
"
Their latest hit dated "
We Will Rise
" is a ( "
we we will meet
" in French) song of hope after a year of sacrifices.
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