Voices Of Mzansi

The Ndlovu Youth Choir made it all the way to the final of America’s Got Talent – and with an album out later this year they’re bound to go even further

- Khosi Biyela & Siyabonga Dzimbilili

HE COULD barely believe it when they reached out to him. Sandile Majola, manager of the Ndlovu Youth Choir, shook his head when he saw the message on his Facebook page asking if the choir would be interested in being on the biggest talent search show in the world.

Why on Earth would America’s Got Talent (AGT) be interested in a choir from Limpopo?

Obviously this was some sort of scam, he thought.

Luckily for Sandile and the choir, he didn’t delete the message – or chances are they wouldn’t be the household name they are now, both in Mzansi and America.

The choir made it to the final of the show – the first African group to do so – with brilliant, beautiful renditions of Vicky Sampson’s hit Afrikan Dream, Toto’s Africa and other popular songs. And while they didn’t manage to scoop the $1 million (about R15m) prize, they went further than they’d imagined possible.

“We went there to show off the voices of the rural kids from Limpopo,” gushes choir conductor Ralf Schmitt.

“We wanted to show the world what South Africa can offer.”

Bright and bubbly, the choir was a vision to behold when they took to the stage with sunny smiles at the ready, smartly decked out in striking outfits created by local designers Sun Goddess and Brenda Quin, with signature beading by Sarah Masango.

South African hearts swelled with pride each time the talented choir performed in front of the show’s judges – Howie Mandel, Gabrielle Union, Julianne Hough, and the notoriously grumpy Simon Cowell – and they got them on their feet too, dancing and applauding with the rapturous studio audience.

That swell of pride continued when the singing group received a heroes’ welcome on their recent return home. Ralf tells DRUM they were shocked when they were welcomed by hundreds of fans at OR Tambo Airport.