By: Natasha Archary
The Ultimate Kaya 959 Top 30 kickstarts Youth Month featuring the Ndlovu Youth Choir. Two of the choir’s members, Sandile Majola and Thuli Ndlovu join DJ Keyez, sharing more about the group’s new album, Grateful.
Sandile has been with the choir since inception in 2009 and was just 13-years old at the time. What started as an afternoon youth programme in ekasi, soon became one of the country’s and world’s most popular groups.
From Limpopo to the World Stage
The choir was established in Moutse Valley, in rural Limpopo, and went on to take the world stage as a finalist in the America’s Got Talent reality show.
Choir Director Ralf Schmitt, is so passionate about the group that he formed a partnership with Berklee College of Music, in the US for 4 choir members to study music.
Thuli and Sandile are two of the choristers who are part of this initiative.
When Sandile joined the group in 2009, it “wasn’t a serious thing.”
“At the time it was just something I did for fun, to keep me off the streets after school. It only became a professional thing in 2018 when we were scouted for America’s Got Talent.”
Sandile shares with DJ Keyez
It was after their viral collaboration with SA’s Grammy award winning flautist, Walter Kellerman that doors flew open for the choir.
WATCH: Ndlovu Youth Choir members on the Ultimate Kaya 959 Top 30
‘Grateful’ to be going on tour
The response to their new album Grateful has been overwhelming, so much so that Ndlovu Youth Choir is planning a national tour in the next few months.
Grateful offers a different sound to what the group is traditionally known for and the single, Afrika Hey, featuring Sun-El Musician and DJ Kenza is doing the most at the moment.
There’s 40 youngsters currently in the group and creatively, they have moved from just performing to creating their own music, pushing them out of their comfort zone.
The album is a way for the choir to thank everyone for their love and support over the years.
“We are #Grateful for each and every opportunity that comes out way. We feel there are so many young people around the world, waiting for their chance to show what they can do. We are extremely fortunate to get the opportunity to showcase our talents on one of the world’s biggest stages. In a way, we are humbled to represent the potential and untapped talents of millions of young people around the world and hope to use every opportunity that comes out way to showcase that.”
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