The band was started in Jokong village and composes and sings songs in Khelobedu, Sepedi, Xitsonga, Tshivenda, Ningala and other African languages. “The group consists of 22 young people most of whom are orphans,” said Mokgadi Theresa Manyama of Living Rock Band. Tshwale, founder of Maeteko Group Holdings, started the band to keep young people off the streets, help them focus on their studies and build them into responsible community members and leaders of tomorrow.

King Tshwale’s first daughter, Nono Ngobeni, named the group, The Living Rock. The group’s first song, Rea go leboga Jesu, was recorded in December 2013 at Sunshine Studios Pretoria. The album was well received and played on all SABC radio stations in Limpopo and on One Gospel on channel 331 on DStv.

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“The group has already released two albums and will be conducting a live recording, In Christ We Rise, on June 1 at the Meloko Wedding Venue in Rolvark next to Mooketsi along the R81,” she added. “We aspire to be recognised along the biggest stars in the gospel industry and possibly win a South African Music Award (SAMA),” concluded Manyama.

The group was nominated at the Crown Gospel Awards, they won the Best Gospel Group at the Ingoma Awards and won Best Xitsonga Gospel Song at Munghana Lonene FM Awards.