BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Paying tribute to their ancestral roots in South Africa, the Soweto Gospel Choir opened their performance with a powerful song honoring those who come from a proud and respected lineage.
The Grammy Award-winning ensemble’s rendition of "Nkonyane Kandaba" set the tone for an immersive spiritual performance at Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center on Saturday night.
The nearly sold-out concert served as a mix of soaring vocals — sung in the dozen languages of South Africa — and beautifully choreographed dance.
“South Africa is the birthplace and epicenter of the freedom movement — where our parents, our grandparents, and everyone on stage tonight have suffered injustice and oppression,” said Swimmy Jiyane, one of the choir’s founding members.
“You may not understand the words, but you will understand the feeling.”
The three-time Grammy Award-winning choir, founded in 2003 in South Africa’s Soweto township, is known worldwide for its fusion of traditional African gospel, spirituals and contemporary pop.
They have performed for global leaders, including President Barack Obama, and at Nelson Mandela’s funeral in 2013, and also shared the stage with artists like Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Beyoncé, U2 and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder.
Rich and famous aside, Jiyane opened up about the importance of touring in local communities.
“We feel great and we feel blessed. For the community to come and see us — it’s a huge blessing," he said.
"We’re humbled by that, because that’s what we live for."
Spreading Mandela's mission
Although they tour globally, the choir also serves as musical ambassadors for the Nelson Mandela Foundation, sharing his words of resilience and hope.
Before Mandela's passing, the choir performed for the leader, who owned a home in Soweto — the historic township outside Johannesburg that played a pivotal role in the fight to end apartheid.
The story of Soweto and Mandela's message resonated throughout the evening.
The first half of the performance showcased songs in several of South Africa’s mother tongues— including Xhosa and Zulu, the latter being Jiyane's home language.
The second half transitioned into English gospel classics, filling Baker Hall with handclaps, dancing and vocals from the audience.
“We don’t just get on stage to sing,” Jiyane said. “We get on stage to fulfill someone’s heart.
"When we see people tapping their feet or nodding their heads, we know we’ve done something right. That’s what we take away every night — that energy, that joy.”
Finding joy in the music
In an equally joyous concert, the audience was treated to a free concert by the Gospel Choir of the Lehigh Valley before Soweto's show.
Led by music director Justin Mathis, the 11-member choir performed four songs, including a Swahili hymn performed in pitch-perfect a cappella.
“Some of our members already knew Swahili,” Mathis said.
"For others, we worked through the phonetics together to make sure everyone was singing clearly. That process — learning, helping one another — it’s part of what makes the choir special.”
Mathis formed the choir last May and welcomes singers of all backgrounds and faiths.
They rehearse weekly at the Boys and Girls Club of Bethlehem and in churches that open their doors to the singers.
“Our goal is to bring together people from different churches and walks of life — to reach the Lehigh Valley, to uplift, and to unite,” Mathis said.
Mathis said the choir has become a place of rediscovery for some of the members — both musically and emotionally.
“You see people come in saying, 'I haven’t sung in years,’” Mathis said.
“But once they’re surrounded by love, encouragement, and fellowship, you see them come out of their shell. Bonds form. People find joy again through the music.”
Mathis, who grew up in Bethlehem and attended Grace Deliverance Baptist Church, said his inspiration for forming the group came from his childhood experiences in interchurch gatherings across the region.
“There used to be this incredible movement where churches from different denominations — Baptist, Lutheran, Pentecostal, even Messianic Jewish congregations — would come together to worship,” he said.
“I wanted to create a space where anyone can come and feel uplifted because music unites people — especially gospel music.
"There’s a power that comes from it."
The Gospel Choir of the Lehigh Valley will perform at a No Kings rally and protest Saturday, Oct. 18, at Bethlehem's Rose Garden.
For information on the event or how to join the choir, visit their Facebook page.
