Patriotic emotion ran high on Sunday, September 7, as Lowvelders sang and danced passionately to the sounds of the Ndlovu Youth Choir at the Lowveld National Botanical Garden. The performance formed part of the internationally-acclaimed choir’s Heritage Tour, and paid tribute to SA’s most-loved music.

Hits like “Patla Patla”, “Shosholoza”, “African Dream” and “Suikerbossie” had Lowvelders on their feet celebrating our rainbow nation.

They also performed their new rendition of Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in isiZulu. The performance moved many to tears in a united sense of pride. Released on August 29, the song has gained a lot of attention, and was even featured in an article by the British national daily, The Times.

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The audience was treated to the choir’s original song, “We Will Rise”, which was released in 2020. Conductor, Ralf Schmitt, talked about the meaning behind the song and explained that it was written for South African artists who struggled financially during the Covid-19 pandemic. “The song should also give hope to South Africans that, no matter what happens, we will rise,” he shared.

The Ndlovu Youth Choir went on to pay tribute to hearing-impaired people, interpreting their rendition of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” in sign language, with the bass turned up to maximum so that the hearing impaired could feel the music.

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The choir’s vibrant energy and dance moves entertained guests and made them feel proudly South African.