Hope: The Soweto Gospel Choir
★★★★★
In a one-hour performance titled Hope, the Soweto Gospel Choir brings to Adelaide the energy, verve and joy that has marked its music for over 20 years. Founded in 2002 in Soweto on the outskirts of Johannesburg, the Soweto Gospel Choir quickly established itself as an award-winning tour de force, performing for Nelson Mandela and Oprah Winfrey, and singing alongside John Legend and Celine Dion.
At this year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival, the choir performs songs from the resistance against Apartheid and the American Civil Rights Movement. Through their music and dance, the troupe testify to the human spirit, bringing undeniable energy and optimism to the audience during times of global uncertainty and tension. The music of Hope is a reminder of our collective humanity and the importance that the arts play in bringing meaning and value to our world.
Grounded in the past of the South African Liberation and American Civil Rights movements, the hope that the Soweto Gospel Choir sing of is not based on naivete, but a lived history of resistance and liberation that testifies to humanity’s ability to create social justice through collective action.
Highlights of the performance include ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and a stirring rendition of ‘Hallelujah’. The concert concludes with multiple requests for an encore and a standing ovation. To quote the choir master, “The Soweto Gospel Choir is here!” and it is an unmissable event at this year’s Adelaide Fringe Festival.
