Los Angeles — The top honors for Best Traditional World Music was awarded Sunday night at the 49th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles to the Soweto Gospel Choir for its CD Blessed, and those associated with the group see this as a significant and historical achievement for South African music.
“ We are thrilled at this honor. It’s every musician’s dream and for us the dream has come true,” said the choir’s Executive Producer Beverly Bryer, who accepted the award in Los Angeles along with the choir’s Musical Director Lucas Bok, Choir Master David Mulovhedzi and Record Producer Robin Hogarth. “How proud we all feel in bringing the Grammy home to share with the nation.”
“This is a tremendous honor for the choir and all who worked so hard on the album, and for South Africa,” said record producer Robin Hogarth. “The importance of this cannot be underestimated.”
Soweto is South Africa’s largest urban black community, with an estimated population of between 1 and 3 million people. In the early 1900s, the area consisted of dwellings for Black mine workers. And with apartheid, Soweto, which stands for South Western Townships, became synonymous with the worst of the country’s racist policies, with hundreds of thousands of Africans forcibly evicted to the townships from Johannesburg.
The region was at the center of the social changes that swept the country the last 50 years. In 1955, the Freedom Charter – a declaration of equal rights for all South Africans – was drawn up in Soweto. That document provided the foundation of the African National Congress and Nelson Mandela’s struggles to eliminate apartheid. In 1976, student riots engulfed Soweto, enflamed by the violent reprisals from police, and ignited the resistance movement that ultimately brought an end to apartheid in 1991, establishing the right to vote for all South Africans in 1993.
“Through the years of turmoil, and the long walk to freedom taken by Nelson Mandela and the people of the country, the music and art of South Africa played a vital role in expressing the hope and aspirations of the people,” Hogarth said. “Soweto Gospel Choir members are representative of South Africans everywhere, and this award highlights what can be achieved.”
The Soweto Gospel Choir was formed four years ago, made up of the best choral talent from local churches. They have spent the majority of that time traveling around the world performing – representing South Africa’s musical heritage, and acting as ambassador for former president Nelson Mandela’s AIDS foundation “46664.” The number 46664 was Mr. Mandela’s prisoner number and is used as a reminder of just how imprisoned the nation has become by this horrible disease.
In 2006, the United Nations reported that while African countries below the Sahara comprised just over 10% of the world’s population, 63% of all people with HIV – about 24.7 million – live in that region. Additionally, 2.1 million people in those countries have died of AIDS, accounting for 72% of all AIDS deaths worldwide.
Through its tours in Europe, Australia and the United States, the Soweto Gospel Choir also raised more than $500,000 for its own charitable foundation, Nkosis Haven Vukani, which helps AIDS orphans who receive little or no government aid to provide the basic necessities of life – food, shelter and school clothing. The choir were guest artists in “Unite for the Stars” in 2006, where, in addition to performing, they backed-up Diana Ross and Christina Aguielera. That event raised money for Unite Against Hunger and Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund.
When congratulating the Soweto Gospel Choir for winning its prestigious Grammy Award, South African President Thabo Mbeki commended the group for its charitable work, an expression of “Ubuntu” ( humanity), and said, “Through their unique African Gospel music, the choir continues to bring joy to audiences around the world.”
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Record producer, Robin Hogarth, explained that he was inspired to use music to uplift people and improve social conditions. “Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard said, ‘From Southern Africa will spring the next great civilization’,” said Hogarth. “ The spiritual energy in African music is so rich and diverse. There is something very special about it’s moods and rhythms. I believe this music can inspire the spirit of brotherhood that can unite all people and bring about the civilization Mr. Hubbard predicted.”
Executive Producer Bryer told the South Africa Press Agency, “The choir will continue to spread the much-needed messages of love, joy and hope to audiences throughout the world – regardless of their color, language or faith.”
The choir’s first two CDs, Voices From Heaven and Blessed reached #1 on Billboard’s World Music chart in the U.S. And in 2003, they also won “Best Gospel Choir” at the American Gospel Music Awards.
The group is currently touring the United States.
