Nov. 15, 2010
Mwamba!: Ugandan Children's Choir Hits the Spot for America This Thanksgiving
By Stephen N. Reed
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
How rare it is to find anything on earth that all can agree upon these days. Yet the Mwamba Children's Choir from Uganda gets very close to that, with a sound and a beat that grabs the audience from the first song and never lets them go. From small children to senior citizens, toes are tapping and the joyful glow of the African visitors warms every face in the house.
What makes this exceptionally well-trained troupe even more amazing
is that they range only from 7-12 years of age. Though Mwamba is only
into its third year of existence, the adult leaders of this pulsing, waving,
spiritual singers and dancers have somehow produced a pitch-perfect
group of youngsters.
Plus, the choreography used in each song comes straight from the Ugandan culture. Though the children's own moves are incorporated into a natural African tapestry of rhythm throughout, the discerning eye knows that this kind of precision comes only with many hours of practice.
But once each song's notes and rhythms are mastered, they serve as the frame for an even more beautiful display for the audience: the incredible heart and soul these children possess, the giving of all they have for God and their audience. For each of these children is an orphan, some of whom have witnessed one or both parents succumb to the AIDS epidemic in Uganda.
Yet for all their loss at such an early age, there is joy in the hearts of these children for God's provision: a Christian orphanage where they can grow and laugh again like children should.
Daniel Mugerwa, the group's coordinator, explains how the choir came into being.
"My father was a pastor who started the orphanage in 1998," said Mugerwa, an IT specialist. "Father saw the significant increase in the number of orphaned children due to the AIDS crisis and decided he had to do something. So he set to work creating this orphanage, and for the next ten years we developed it as best we could. We continue to help raise about 200 orphans each year."
"But in 2007, my father passed away, and we were stuck," said Mugerwa. "We didn't know how we were going to sustain the orphanage. But a friend of ours from Denmark came for my father's funeral, and when he heard the orphans singing in tribute to my father, he said, "If you can get more people to hear these children's voices, that could help save the orphanage." So in 2008, Mwamba Children's Choir was started by my elder brother, Stephen Sekitende, who serves as our Director, to promote talent and change lives through music."
"So that's what we did, and it has been our mission for the past three years," said Mugerwa. "We hope those who hear our choir will consider becoming monthly sponsors. $35 per month for an elementary or middle school child or $55 per month for a high school child gives them a chance to get a good education and medical care. We make each dollar stretch as far as possible, and you're literally saving a child's life and making it a good one."
The group already has two CDs of their songs out and a third is just about
to be released. The children have toured in several spots across Suburban
Maryland near D.C. and will also get to see part of the Western U.S.
in Arizona for a few weeks. At each stop, they stay in the homes of
members of sponsoring churches.
They hope to return each year to reconnect with old friends they've met and make many new ones.
"While we hear what a rich blessing it is for those who house our children on our tour stops, the children are overjoyed, too," said Mugerwa. "For instance, some of them have never had ice cream before--that is a blessing for them!"
As you can see from the links below, the children are proof positive that, no matter what one has been through in this life, joy is still present, waiting to triumph over the difficulties of life.
In this season of Thanksgiving, no group has more to teach Americans about gratitude and thanks than this potent, joyful, Christian group that holds nothing back in their praises to God.
For more information about making a contribution to Mwamba, buying a CD after listening to their songs, or getting on their performance calendar for next year. check out these links:
http://mwambachildrenschoir.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uganda-Childrens-Choir-Mwamba/173174224533
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPe70CPe2hI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8nm3moJeaw&feature=related
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Mwamba!: Ugandan Children's Choir Hits the Spot for America This Thanksgiving
By Stephen N. Reed
Special to Huntingtonnews.net
How rare it is to find anything on earth that all can agree upon these days. Yet the Mwamba Children's Choir from Uganda gets very close to that, with a sound and a beat that grabs the audience from the first song and never lets them go. From small children to senior citizens, toes are tapping and the joyful glow of the African visitors warms every face in the house.
What makes this exceptionally well-trained troupe even more amazing
is that they range only from 7-12 years of age. Though Mwamba is only
into its third year of existence, the adult leaders of this pulsing, waving,
spiritual singers and dancers have somehow produced a pitch-perfect
group of youngsters.
Plus, the choreography used in each song comes straight from the Ugandan culture. Though the children's own moves are incorporated into a natural African tapestry of rhythm throughout, the discerning eye knows that this kind of precision comes only with many hours of practice.
But once each song's notes and rhythms are mastered, they serve as the frame for an even more beautiful display for the audience: the incredible heart and soul these children possess, the giving of all they have for God and their audience. For each of these children is an orphan, some of whom have witnessed one or both parents succumb to the AIDS epidemic in Uganda.
Yet for all their loss at such an early age, there is joy in the hearts of these children for God's provision: a Christian orphanage where they can grow and laugh again like children should.
Daniel Mugerwa, the group's coordinator, explains how the choir came into being.
"My father was a pastor who started the orphanage in 1998," said Mugerwa, an IT specialist. "Father saw the significant increase in the number of orphaned children due to the AIDS crisis and decided he had to do something. So he set to work creating this orphanage, and for the next ten years we developed it as best we could. We continue to help raise about 200 orphans each year."
"But in 2007, my father passed away, and we were stuck," said Mugerwa. "We didn't know how we were going to sustain the orphanage. But a friend of ours from Denmark came for my father's funeral, and when he heard the orphans singing in tribute to my father, he said, "If you can get more people to hear these children's voices, that could help save the orphanage." So in 2008, Mwamba Children's Choir was started by my elder brother, Stephen Sekitende, who serves as our Director, to promote talent and change lives through music."
"So that's what we did, and it has been our mission for the past three years," said Mugerwa. "We hope those who hear our choir will consider becoming monthly sponsors. $35 per month for an elementary or middle school child or $55 per month for a high school child gives them a chance to get a good education and medical care. We make each dollar stretch as far as possible, and you're literally saving a child's life and making it a good one."
The group already has two CDs of their songs out and a third is just about
to be released. The children have toured in several spots across Suburban
Maryland near D.C. and will also get to see part of the Western U.S.
in Arizona for a few weeks. At each stop, they stay in the homes of
members of sponsoring churches.
They hope to return each year to reconnect with old friends they've met and make many new ones.
"While we hear what a rich blessing it is for those who house our children on our tour stops, the children are overjoyed, too," said Mugerwa. "For instance, some of them have never had ice cream before--that is a blessing for them!"
As you can see from the links below, the children are proof positive that, no matter what one has been through in this life, joy is still present, waiting to triumph over the difficulties of life.
In this season of Thanksgiving, no group has more to teach Americans about gratitude and thanks than this potent, joyful, Christian group that holds nothing back in their praises to God.
For more information about making a contribution to Mwamba, buying a CD after listening to their songs, or getting on their performance calendar for next year. check out these links:
http://mwambachildrenschoir.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Uganda-Childrens-Choir-Mwamba/173174224533
Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPe70CPe2hI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8nm3moJeaw&feature=related
Share This Story:
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