With the aim of reviving a praise and worship culture among youth, the Mdantsane Gospel Choir and the Tshwane Gospel Choir will hold a Youth Power in Praise and Worship concert at the Orient Theatre in East London on June 16.
The Mdantsane Gospel Choir is a youth project that began in 2013 and is led by its founders, Luckie Shongwe and Lusizo Kango.
“Our aim is to try and keep the youth busy, especially the youth of Mdantsane,” said Shongwe.
“The vision came after we noticed that the Eastern Cape is filled with talent.
“We decided to start this concept after realising that all the other provinces have similar concepts, like Joyous Celebration, the Soweto Gospel Choir and Tshwane Gospel Choir.”
The co-founder said they established the group after realising Eastern Cape gospel groups and choirs were fading. The choir has members between the ages of 18 and 35.
“The reason we chose the June 16 as the date was that we want to align ourselves with the youth programmes and celebrations of the day.
“It also worked out well as the date falls on a Sunday this year,” said Shongwe.
He said it was important to uplift the youth.
“The reason this event is focused on the youth is that we strongly believe that if they could adopt a lifestyle of praising and worshipping God, they could be free from any wrongdoing,” he said.
Shongwe said his choir was excited to be collaborating with the SA Music Awards’ nominated Tshwane Gospel Choir.
“The Tshwane Gospel Choir has officially adopted the Mdantsane Gospel Choir to mentor and guide us through this journey. We have some big projects lined up together,” said Shongwe.
One of Tshwane Gospel Choir’s lead singers, founding member Godfrey Mahlangu, who was once a taxi driver in Pretoria, said they were happy to have a relationship with the Mdantsane Gospel Choir.
“This partnership is a vision from the founder of the Tshwane Gospel Choir.
“To mentor the growth of this amazing choir is an honour. The Eastern Cape is filled with amazing voices,” said Mahlangu. The Orient Theatre will erupt with shape-shifting praise and worship on June 16. People should be ready for the spirit of God to move and change things. There is power in worship.”..