PRESIDENT
Ramaphosa and Mthethwa congratulate the group on scooping their third Grammy award
LOVE is why Sibongile Makgathe has remained one of the pillars of the Soweto Gospel Choir.
Yesterday, together with her fellow group members, Makgathe was honoured by President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa for their Grammy win.
The gospel group bagged the Best World Music Album award for their album Freedom at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony at Staples Center in Los Angeles last month.
“Every time I am at home, I can’t wait to meet with the choir and perform. Being together strengthens us and gives us encouragement to carry on and look forward to another day. When we perform and the audience don’t understand the language, they understand the emotion, and that is how we speak to them, through the music,” said Makgathe.
The choir came together in song at the Market Theatre Square to receive an honorary certificate award from the president.
“You are certainly the most colourful export we have, not just in the clothes, but because your name reverberates throughout the world,” said Ramaphosa.
He said the choir, which have added a third Grammy to their shelf, represented the best the country had to offer. “You have become extraordinary. May you continue to make your nation proud.”
Founding member Siphokazi Nxumalo said it was ubuntu that kept them going.
“We have become a family, so the structures are in place. When there is a new person they are met with love. We understand that it is their time and we create room for them. As founding members, we are paving the way for them. We know the group will growthe name, the brand will grow – so we make them feel at home because there is always room for more talent.”
Ramaphosa chose to wear a vibrant silk shirt to match the colourful choir and thanked them for always entertaining and leaving a lasting impression on visitors to the country.
“You are also a tourist attraction and it helps to grow our economy. Your music inspires people across boundaries of race, class and faith.”
Nxumalo said the reason the choir stood out was because it was unique to South Africa.
“We bring something that is not found abroad. We are very traditional, proudly South African. We have 11 official languages and we sing in six of those. So when we go to a place like America, it is something they don’t have. Our colours are beautiful, they reflect a rainbow nation,” she said.