Young singers’ lives changed through music
Thanks to a man who chose to mentor them
AN EAST London man who has trained and mentored children from disadvantaged backgrounds in a music skills development programme, will be launching DVDs of the music they have been making for the last five years.
The group, the Buffalo City Youth Orchestra, will be performing at the East London City Hall on Sunday at 1pm.
Monwabisi Nkula first met the youth from Duncan Village in 2007, when he was driving through their neighbourhood.
“I remember walking to where they were and I asked them to sing a church hymn for me and I was blown away, I cried. I told them that their lives will never be the same again and at the time I didn’t even know what would happen to them,” he said.
A few months later, Nkula was asked to arrange a choir for the funeral of one of his friends.
“I went to Duncan Village and looked for them. We did arrangements of songs and they sang beautifully and everyone was amazed.
“Another friend asked for them to sing at a house opening function and things started happening for them,” he said.
The group of 16 soon started performing at various functions and one of Nkula’s friends took it upon himself to buy the choir uniforms. They are now called the Buffalo City Youth Orchestra.
Nkula, who is also a singer, said he was determined to do whatever it took to give the youth a platform to showcase their talent.
“In 2011, I recorded my first CD at the Miriam Makeba Studios [now Eastern Cape Audio DO YOU know a selfless person who goes the extra mile for the good of others, a local hero who makes something good out of nothing but a desire to improve the quality of life for the community. That’s the person we would like to meet! Please send your nomination with your local heroe’s name and contact number together with yours to: Visual Centre] featuring them. When it first came out, people were blown away.
“Later that year, we recorded the second CD and we have been selling them at various churches around the country.”
As the group grew, Nkula started an NPO called Buffalo City Youth Music and Skills Development Foundation.
“We don’t have a lot but with the little that we get, I make sure that the needs of these children are taken care of.
“We have graduates and some have changed their ways.
“Music transforms people and this is a platform aimed at encouraging youth to stay away from substance abuse and all other social ills in our community,” he said.
Last year, the group, which consists of young people from Mdantsane and Duncan Village, recorded their first DVD.
“We also have a band from Zwelitsha called Belcanto Singers that has also featured and will also be performing this Sunday,” Nkula said, adding that other choirs would also entertain the audience on the day.
“There will also be a choir of eight to 14-year-olds from Vukuhambe School of the Disabled,” he said.
“The CDs and DVDs will be for sale [at Sunday’s event].
“We encourage people to support this initiative.”
Entry is free. — dispatch.co.za