Circle of Life By Ndlovu Youth Choir

Circle of Life Credits

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CREDITS

Circle of Life
By Ndlovu Youth Choir

Composers: Elton John & Tim Rice
Arrangement: Lebo Morake

Choir: Ndlovu Youth Choir

VIDEO CREDITS

Creative Director: Andrew Timm
Editor: Adino Trapani
Camera Crew: Wandile Kegakilwe, Edwin Knopf, Peter Groenewald
Shooting Location: Lyric Theatre, Gold Reef City Casino, Johannesburg, South Africa
Digital Upload: Josh Nuttall

SOUND CREDITS

Choir: Ndlovu Youth Choir
Artistic Director: Ralf Schmitt
Choir Manager: Sandile Majola
Recording Engineers: Sipho Hleza and Bruce Forbes
Mastering Engineer: Bill Hare
Keys: Sipho Hleza
Bass: Morne Brainers
Drums: Peter Djamba
Guitar: Nathan Smith
Orchestration: Ralf Schmitt
Lead Vocals: Busisiwe Mathibela, Madoda Moshoane, Ntombenhle Galela, Thabang Sekele

Choreography: Zakhele Nkosi

Ndlovu Care Group CEO: Hugo Tempelman

Mixed at Two Keys Studio, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mastered at Bill Hare Productions, Milpitas, California, USA

About the Ndlovu Youth Choir:

Can participation in a music program change the lives of even the world’s most disadvantaged children? The choristers of the Ndlovu Youth Choir are living proof that it certainly can. This vibrant youth choral ensemble chants, harmonizes, and tip-toe-taps their way through a powerful 11-language repertoire that includes a sampling of all things South Africa: from isicathamiya (is-caht-a-MEE-ya), the a cappella genre accompanied only by body percussion, made famous by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, to ancient tribal chants, contemporary gospel, Afro-pop and Afro-jazz from the repertoires of Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba, and uplifting choral music written exclusively for the choir.

Founded in 2009, this exuberant group has toured southern Africa and Europe with their multi-sensorial performances to significant critical and audience acclaim. The members are selected by audition from the young people from the Ndlovu Care Group, a community program providing healthcare, early childhood education, after-school activities, and more to rural Moutse, Limpopo, South Africa. Program directors find that, because of the time commitment of the choir, as well as the values of self-discipline, self- confidence, and leadership that participation imbues, choristers have lower rates of drug use, delinquency, and teen pregnancy than their peers.

It’s about more than just staying out of trouble, though. The choir offers an early pathway to artistic and professional achievement that is so often only available to children from affluent backgrounds, but it also offers a connection to the children’s ancestral roots and allows them to share those cultural roots with the world. It’s a profound gift in both directions, and one which the singers themselves say fills them with hope: for a better life and for a better world.

[loiserick]

Why when Africans sings i feel like their voice comes out from the heart of the earth.

[lolabunny]

No one can change my mind. African choirs just hit different.❤

[AndreMateo]

Their audition in AGT brought me here! Rooting for them! ♥️

[claudiaramis]

If music is the language of heaven, these kids are all angels.

[yolandanxesi]

Guys I’m crying 😭😭😭🇿🇦🇿🇦I’m so proud to be South African 🇿🇦With a painful past but we continue to rise.Go SA❤️

[KristineMaitland]

Don't worry folks - these kids will go to Vegas... and New York... and London... and Toyko... and Sydney. I have no doubt that people worldwide will pay money to see them perform.

[moow]

This song has found its true home: an African song about African life sung by Africans.

[sharonmedeiros]

Im an old white lady from Massachusetts and this took my breath away and made my heart soar! In these children live the heart and soul of Africa and the hope for a world united in love and peace.

[joyadigwe]

Wow I love my fellow Africans .may God bless us all .love u guys from Nigeria 🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬

[mangushodenis]

Everything in southafrica is done literally musically. Uganda loves you guys..

[Onyinyeish]

Do you hear the drums 🪘??? I do, it’s in our souls… blessings from Nigeria 🇳🇬 to my SA 🇿🇦 brothers and sisters

[DaNOliveiraDaN]

I'm a white man from Brazil and i have African ancestors, especially from my father's side. all my life I have always been touched and moved by African music, especially south African. At the moment i am learning Swahili and I find myself having goosebumps all the time while doing it. Just love it. My dream is to visit and get to know some African countries. Right now, because of this beautiful performance, I have tears rolling down my cheeks.
Much love,
Dan

[kaytemelo]

South Africa has the most unique tunes.
Much love from Kenya.

[Uniquescout]

When it comes to music in Africa, south Africa takes it. You just can't take it from them. Lovely



Love from nigeria🇳🇬

[maamenuamah]

Proud Ghanaian here!

I just want to tell these brothers and sisters of mine from South Africa that I love them. And I pray they go higher and higher, soar, soar soar like eagles 😘😘👌👌👌👌😘😘😘😘😊😊😊😊

[dzigsrecipe]

I'm from Ghana but I love this traditional musics from South Africa and South Africans at large. I love you.

[julielikesunicorns]

Finally a good choir rendition of this song

[HauteTswanaBabe_]

REPRESENTING SOUTH Africa 🇿🇦 so well I’m proud!!! Proudly South African😩😩😩

[johnlawless]

Each of us as humans have different abilities... and ladies and gentlemen the beautiful African people have singing down to a T... nothing compares to it... that's pure humanity you can hear.

[ddaagggg]

Since reading Mandela's autobiography I've been dreaming of one day experiencing your culture. Thank you for sharing this, it's beautiful. Much love from México!