Children’s Choir Offers Hope For A Better World

It’s not uncommon to flip through the pages of a newspaper or turn on the world news and see harrowing pictures of destitute African and Eastern European children left orphaned in war-torn and famine-plagued countries.

It’s a grim sight made even grimmer by the thought of the children’s dubious future.

Enter the African Children’s Choir, comprised of 26 children who have lost either one or both of their parents.

Through its spiritual blend of music, the choir, which tours incessantly throughout this country and Canada, offers hope as well as awareness about children in crisis throughout the world.

On Sunday, the African Children’s Choir will give three free concerts in Spokane, two at Manito Presbyterian Church, 401 E. 30th, and one at Fourth Memorial Church, 2000 N. Standard.

Since forming 12 years ago, the choir has served as the voice of its unheard peers, making hundreds of international concert appearances and performing on TV programs such as “Good Morning America,” “The Today Show” and “CBS This Morning.” In 1994, the African Children’s Choir garnered a Grammy nomination for best gospel choir.

The combo’s repertoire encompasses a broad mixture of ethnic and popular music. It melds native African songs and gospel music with popular children’s songs and contemporary pop music.

The choir is sponsored by Friends in the West, an outreach organization that lends emergency assistance, food and housing to orphans in Rwanda, southern Sudan, Albania, Romania and Bosnia.

The African Children’s Choir will perform at the 8:30 and 11 a.m. services at Manito Presbyterian and at 6 p.m. at Fourth Memorial. The concerts are free, though donations are encouraged.

, DataTimes