“The African Choir was a group of fourteen young men and women, and two children, from South Africa, then under British rule. The singers were Frances Gqoba,Albert Jonas, Johanna Jonkers, Samuel Konongo, Sannie Koopman, Neli Mabandla, Wellington Majiza, Charlotte Manye, Katie Manye, John Mbongwe, George McLellan, Mbikazi Nobengula, Josiah Semouse, Eleanor Xiniwe, John Xiniwe and Paul Xiniwe.
The choir toured Britain between 1891 and 1893, ostensibly to raise funds to build a technical college on the Cape Coast, in order to support the expanding black labour force. They were educated, devout Christians – several graduated from Lovedale College, a distinguished missionary school established by the Glasgow Missionary Society in the Eastern Cape Province. They performed to great acclaim and large audiences at Crystal Palace, for members of the British aristocracy and leading political figures, and most notably for Queen Victoria at Osborne House, Isle of Wight. Their stage repertoire was divided into two halves: one comprised Christian hymns sung in English together with popular operatic arias and choruses; the other traditional African hymns. The choir appeared in traditional African dress, and in contemporary Victorian dress in response. Choir members such as Charlotte Maxeke (née Manye) and Paul Xiniwe later became leading social activists and reformers in South Africa.”
- The Missing Chapter: Black Chronicles
No comments:
Post a Comment