South African celebrated gospel ensemble, Joyous Celebration will, take to the stage this month to celebrate women.
The award-winning choir will present a virtual production in honor of the phenomenal women of South Africa, led by an all-female cast of vocalists – for women by women.
In response to the “new norm” of the Covid-19 pandemic, Joyous Celebration recently launched a new platform, Joyous TV, the home for all Joyous video content. It is through this platform that the three-hour production will be streamed live on Saturday, August 21 at 6 pm.
This celebration will also feature female guests, including some Joyous alumni who have performed on the Joyous stage in the past.
Speaking on this, the Co-founder and producer of the group, Dr. Lindelani Mkhize said: “We’re inviting and encouraging people to ‘make a date’ of it, whether they will be watching it with their girls, friends or families. The show promises to be another spectacular production that we hope will turn into an annual celebration and tribute of all the daughters of our beautiful country.
“With a varied repertoire that will not only focus on music from the latest album but viewers will also be captivated by the beautiful, melodic voices of our women-only vocalists. They won’t even miss the male singers”.
Lindelani
That notwithstanding, Co-founder, Jabu Hlongwane also adding his voice said:
“One of the few positive outcomes of the pandemic has been the introduction and growth of virtual shows.
“We know that it’s not the same experience, but we have embraced the power of technology with its limitless boundaries. We will be able to reach a larger audience, share ourselves with the world at the same time, and touch people we wouldn’t have ordinarily reached through a live show”.
Jabu
Joyous is known for producing some of the country’s biggest female stars: Ntokozo Mbambo, Hlengiwe Ntombela, Mahalia Buchanan, Charisma Hanekom, and Brenda Mtambo.
Nomthy Sibisi, one of the established anchor singers who has enjoyed a successful run with the ensemble said these were exciting times as the women of the ensemble are ready to show what they are made of without their male counterparts.
“Not only do we get to go back to the stage to do what we love, but we do so as a women-only cast (aside from the band), to celebrate ourselves, our mothers, sisters, daughters, and all the women who came before us and those who will come after us.
Nomthy
The Genesis of Joyous Celebration
Joyous Celebration is the innovation of three South African music industry heavyweights – Lindelani Mkhize, Jabu Hlongwane, and Mthunzi Namba. The three have over the years collectively revolutionized the music industry and the gospel genre in particular.
Initially inspired by South Africa’s peaceful transition to democracy, they established this Gospel Music Concept (later to be named Joyous Celebration), and according to Lindelani Mkhize “with the purpose of seeking and unearthing talent, training, shaping and nurturing it and then putting it on the biggest stage for any artist in South Africa, and some moving on to become household names, after carving their own careers in the industry”.
Over the years, the Joyous Celebration group has made an indelible footprint across the borders of South Africa, touching numerous countries, to a point where the name Joyous Celebration, has now become synonymous with gospel music in South Africa and beyond its borders.
The brand has transcended the “religious” sphere to become a lifestyle brand that is the biggest and longest-standing production of its kind in South Africa, inspiring new ways, especially in a country whose vision is to be a nation its people and the world will draw inspiration from; inspiration to find new paths, new solutions, new possibilities, new experiences, new ideas and the will to make it happen.
Read also: STEPHANIE LINUS MARKS INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY WITH ‘HEY WOMAN’.
