Residents truly inspired by their African Dream

Date: 12 September 2014 By: Linda van der Westhuizen

The Agapé African Choir took Makhado (Louis Trichardt) by storm with their show, The African Dream, performed a fortnight before embarking on an international tour.

“All I want is for our heartbeats to beat just as one…” sang Bernice Clifton and Fulufelo Radzilani during the title song, The African Dream, which elicited a standing ovation and an encore from the audience who attended the show in the Agapé Christian Centre on 5 September. The group also launched their first Extended Play album at the same event.

“The true African dream is one in which all African cultures and nationalities are welcome and unified in the bond of peace. Fulu and I are sisters in Jesus Christ and when we sang, I could feel how boundaries and walls in the natural and spiritual world were broken down,” said Bernice after the show. Bernice and her husband, Pastor Grant Clifton, are the two very gifted leaders of the choir. Pastor Grant said at one occasion that there might be many African choirs, but the Agapé African Choir was unique in that its members were of different races and cultures, producing a unique and inspiring sound. “We become ‘faces without races’ when we are one in Christ,” Bernice said.

Loud exclamations came from African members in the audience when there was a round of “volkspele” with “Afrikaners is plesierig” and the Afrikaners and everyone else absolutely loved the colourful Shangaan dances. “I wish we could bring this choir with their message and lifestyle of unity to more places in our area,” said the Makhado municipal manager, Mr Sakkie Mutshinyali.

On their tour, the choir will have ministering opportunities and performances in Jakarta, Indonesia, for three days, Seoul, South Korea, for six days, including a performance at the prestigious Hansei University, and Kota Kinabalu (KK) in East Malaysia for five days. In KK, the choir will do some flash-mob performances in malls as well as two full concerts,The African Dream and The African Beat, as well as ministering at the Sunday service on 5 October at Glory Christian Centre (GCC). Last year, the choir ministered at GCC and was subsequently invited to other countries as well.

“In our travels to the East, we have found that the African sound, rhythm and experience intrigue them and the liberty and freedom from inhibition touch their hearts. We are also very excited about our six-track EP. It has been recorded in Thohoyandou and the feedback that we've had from professional people is that it is really of a good quality,” Pastor Grant said. He explained that where The African Dream brings a message of hope and unity, The African Beat is about liberty and “good old fun”. The African Beat will be performed in Makhado (Louis Trichardt) on 24 October.

“It is a great privilege for us to not only be representatives of our congregation, but of our town and region when we travel and perform overseas,” said Agapé’s senior pastor, Pastor Sam van Niekerk, who is a choir member and has recently developed a talent for gumboot dancing.

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Linda van der Westhuizen

Linda van der Westhuizen has been with Zoutnet since 2001. She has a heart for God, people and their stories. Linda believes that every person is unique and has a special story to tell. It follows logically that human interest stories is her speciality. Linda finds working with people and their leaders in the economic, educational, spiritual and political arena very rewarding. “I have a special interest in what God is doing in our town, province and nation and what He wants us to become,” says Linda.

More photos... 

The Agapé African Choir took the town by storm with their show The African Dream, performed on 5 September at the Agapé Christian Centre, a fortnight before embarking on an international tour. Here Pastor Grant Clifton is directing the choir.