Thursday, November 17, 2022, 7:30 PM

Street and Davis Performance Hall, Anne and Ellen Fife Theatre

THIS PERFORMANCE HAS ALREADY OCCURRED.

PROGRAM NOTEs

View the program for this event here.

 

SONG TRANSLATIONS

Read text and translations for the performance songs here.

"… Hailing from the township that was at the heart of South Africa’s long struggle against apartheid, this choir has the spirit of gospel deep in its blood—and it shows.”

—The Washington Post

Co-sponsored by the Black Cultural Center

Resounding with sheer jubilation, three-time Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir brings Hope: It's Been a Long Time Coming, a program celebrating American and South African artists associated with struggles for civil rights and social justice throughout their countries’ complex histories. From South African freedom songs to the music of Aretha Franklin, Harry Belafonte, and Mahalia Jackson, to traditional African gospel and spirituals, Soweto brings audiences to their feet.

Through its rich harmonies, brilliant costumes, and infectious spirit, the awe-inspiring 20-member ensemble thrills audiences worldwide with performances that uplift the soul. This unforgettable evening features emotional African gospel and freedom songs alongside selections inspired by the U.S. civil rights movement — beautiful and exceptionally moving renditions of songs by legendary artists including Curtis Mayfield, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, and Ben E. King.

Hailing from Soweto (South West Township), a town outside of Johannesburg and home of Nelson Mandela and South Africa’s democratic movement, Soweto Gospel Choir features a line-up of some of South Africa’s best vocalists. These uplifting performers have shared the stage and collaborated with the biggest names in contemporary music, including Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Beyoncé, U2, Diana Ross, Peter Gabriel, Chris Martin, John Legend, Pharrell Williams, Jimmy Cliff, Ben Harper, Angélique Kidjo, Robert Plant, Celine Dion, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hugh Masekela, and Josh Groban.

Soweto Gospel Choir was formed in 2003 at the end of the apartheid era and during South Africa’s inspiring return to democracy. Taking part in some of the major historical events in the new democratic South Africa, Soweto Gospel Choir is proud to have performed on many occasions for South African President Nelson Mandela, as well as at his state funeral in South Africa and at the subsequent commemorative service at Westminster Abbey in London. The group also performed at the funeral service for the late President’s first wife, Winnie Mandela, and serves as an ambassador for the Nelson Mandela Foundation.

Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes. In the foreground, a Black woman sings into the microphone, both eyes closed, her left pointer finger high above her head.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes. All the men dance in a line. In the foreground, one man lands on his feet after a jump, both arms extended side to side at his shoulders. He looks into the camera.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes. In the foreground, the men line up and point towards the audience. In the very front, a Black man in green sings into the microphone, his right hand extended towards the audience.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes. Front and center, a Black woman with long dark brown twists and a purple headband sings into the micrphone with her eyes closed.
A member of Soweto Gospel Choir, a Black woman with long dark brown braids with wooden beads adorning them, sings into a microphone. She wears a beaded headband, stacked gold ring necklaces, beaded bracelets, and long pink nails.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes and projected imagery on columns behind them.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir sing during a performance. On the left is a Black man singing into a microphone and touching his chest. On the right is a Black woman with a green head wrap, long light brown braids, and traditional costume.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage, the women all in a line facing to their left in the foreground, and the men all in a line behind them. They all wear colorful traditional costumes.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes and projected imagery on columns behind them.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir sing during a performance. Half of them kneel, while the other half stands, and they all clap along, apart from one man who is dancing, his arms raised above his head.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir pose onstage, everyone giving thumbs up with both hands towards the camera.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage, all in bright traditional costumes. In the background, members sing and clap along. In the foreground, a Black woman with long light brown braids, jumps into the air, her legs bent beneath her. She reaches her left arm out straight towards the audience, her right arm up above her head.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes. Some sing and clap. Two Black men, in the foreground, tuck jump high into the air.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage, some singing in the background. Others in the foreground pose with both arms raised high above their heads in a V shape.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes and all raise their right fists high into the air above their heads.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes. In the foreground, a Black woman with long braids pulled into a ponytail sings into a microphone, her other hand extended out and away from her.
Members of Soweto Gospel Choir perform onstage in colorful traditional costumes. In the foreground, a Black woman with long braids sings into the microphone with her eyes closed, left arm raised above her head with her index finger extended.
Previous Carousel Item Next Carousel Item

This is Soweto Gospel Choir's the first performance at the Moss Arts Center.

This performance is supported in part by a gift from Clem and Georgia Carter and David and Judie Reemsnyder.

This engagement of Soweto Gospel Choir is made possible in part through the ArtsCONNECT program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation logo