Monday to Friday, advocate Nkosinathi Hinana can be found in court in Mthatha shouting “objection my lord” as he goes about defending his clients, but come the weekend, he trades court robes for church robes to lead congregants in prayer and singing.
Hinana is a reverend at The Holy Christian Apostle Church in Zion in Sterkspruit. His church choir, which he leads, has recently released its debut album, Lwalukhulu Olosuku.
Hinana said the choir comprised more than 40 members who were delighted with their first foray into the music industry. “Personally, I have been singing since childhood and together as a choir we have also been singing for years.
“We would sing for different circuits of the church. I grew up in the Zion church so this kind of music is very close to my heart.”
Last year, Hinana’s wife Zusakhe and three other choir members, Nobantu and Nomzi Gaba and Bonani Mvelase, approached him to pitch the idea of recording an album.
“The four of them resolved that the mass choir should record. They came to me with their idea and I agreed,” he said.
The church choir from Herschel District in Sterkspruit has some members who work as far away as the Free State but they all make time for rehearsals. “We arrange dates so that we are able to meet at regular intervals,” said Hinana.
The church choir, called The Holy Mass Choir, entered and won a singing competition in their hometown in November. The first prize was a recording contract in Gauteng. The 10-rack album has the iconic Zion sound as the golden thread...