Nairobi Chamber Chorus heads to Broadway

Founded in 2005 by Fulbright scholar and musicologist Ken Wakia, this is one of Kenya’s leading choral groups that draws members from institutions in Nairobi such as Kenyatta University and Strathmore Business School.

Wakia said the group’s mission was to “enable young Kenyans to participate in a high-quality musical forum from which they can build their careers or expand their knowledge and interest in the arts”.

Their chosen songs on Broadway will include ‘Because All Men Are Brothers’, ‘Rocking Jerusalem’, ‘Hallelujah’, ‘Lovely Elizabeth’ and ‘Ting’a Malo’, which speak of love, freedom and peace.

The choir has performed at charity concerts in Denmark, East Africa, Spain, the US and the UK. Some of its notable presentations were during former US president Barack Obama’s visit to Kenya in July 2015, Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee pageant at the Windsor Castle in 2012 and a collaboration with the Festival Singers of Florida in 2016.

This will be the first Broadway performance by a Kenyan group after musician Eric Wainaina’s off-Broadway musical ‘Mo Faya’ in 2009.

An elated Wakia deemed it a great honour for the opportunity to perform at the award dinner on 28 November.

“It speaks volumes as to the role Kenya, the Nairobi Chamber Chorus and music is playing in the global leadership arena. It shows that leadership is not just through elective positions,” he said, adding that Martin Richenhagen, CEO of Agco Corporation and recipient of this year’s award, has contributed greatly to Africa’s agricultural development.

Meanwhile, the world's biggest competition in choral music, the World Choral Games, is set to take place in Tshwane, South Africa, in July next year. Choirs are still able to register to participate in the event by following this link.