Watoto choir a story of triumph

Uganda is a country ravaged by AIDS and the atrocities of war. The streets are littered with orphaned and abandoned children. Yet from this quagmire the Watoto Children’s Choir blossoms with a potent message of hope, illuminating the hearts of its people and the world.

Through their inspirational songs and gripping stories, Watoto is spreading a message of faith and optimism for Africa’s children. The 22-person mixed choir has sung before monarchs and prime ministers and on Tuesday, April 6 it performs in St. Albert at Victory Life Church.

This free 75-minute concert features an energetic performance of African rhythms and harmonies coupled with two short dramas and documentary style video clips about the Watoto program.

“The children don’t tell you they are orphans. They try to tell a story of hope. They try to tell you what can happen when people put their hands together and give of time and resources,” says tour team leader Julius Anuari.

At home these children live in self-sustaining Watoto villages located on the periphery of Kampala. Each village consists of homes for the children, a school, medical clinic, community centre and an agricultural project.

Each home accommodates eight children and a housemother, providing a healthy family environment for the children. Father figures play sports with the children and act as mentors.

Before finding a safe home at Watoto, the children were living in horrific conditions. Most were abandoned, abused and malnourished. Some babies were found in pit latrines, garbage dumps, under trees and bushes, in buckets of water and doorsteps.

Watoto also attempts to provide a stable environment for some of Africa’s most marginalized women. They target HIV-positive single women and young girls kidnapped and sexually enslaved by the Lord’s Resistance Army.

Despite the horrors thrown in their paths, Watoto’s children are living life to the fullest and their seven-month tour from Canada’s west to east coast is a reaffirmation that someone cares.

“If they have had a terrible past, the tour releases their self-esteem. They get to know they are loved. Every time they get applause and hugs, there is little time to feel sorry for themselves. And when they go back, they have big dreams. Such things push them to great heights.”

Music gives the young choristers a platform to express their inner thoughts and feelings with specially written tunes such as Not Alone, a slow, serene, reflective work composed by Watoto’s creative team captain Dawn Stride.

And then there is Mambo Sawa, an energetic Swahili song that embraces the idea that “life is good.” Perhaps one of the more uplifting numbers is the mid-tempo Not Forgotten. “It’s uplifting and the crowd ends up singing with the children and people feel they are not forgotten, whatever their situation.”

The Watoto villages were established in 1994. Two years later children’s tours were kick-started to highlight the plight of Uganda’s children and obtain financial support.

Today the message is broader and Anuari encourages people to leave their comfort zone. “We want to tell people that they can do something. We want to challenge people. We want to inspire people. We want people to get involved. Hope is not lost. When people who do well can help, it will push us the extra mile.”

Visit www.watoto.com for more information.