Soweto Gospel Choir opens New Zealand tour with joyful Hamilton performance

The Soweto Gospel Choir opened its New Zealand tour in Hamilton. Photo / Levi Santana

What: Soweto Gospel Choir

Presented by: Live Nation and Andrew Kay

When: March 28

Where: BNZ Theatre, Hamilton

Reviewed by: Cate Prestidge

The Grammy-winning Soweto Gospel Choir kicked off their New Zealand tour to a packed house at Hamilton’s BNZ Theatre on Saturday night.

Renowned worldwide, they performed a programme of South African freedom songs alongside gospel and contemporary classics.

The performance was vibrant, uplifting, and an utterly joyful way to spend a Saturday evening.

We had a perfect view from our seats in the centre of the stalls.

The set was simple but striking: five long, colourful banners with cultural motifs that caught and reflected the lighting throughout the night.

Both evocative and practical, they suit a company constantly on the move.

As the audience settled, the anticipation built.

The pianist and percussionist took their places, and a burst of drumbeats launched the opening number.

Mary Mulovhedzi entered, accompanied by high-pitched lilizela (ululation) from the offstage choir.

Mulovhedzi, daughter of one of the choir’s founders, is a commanding performer in both voice and movement.

Her opening solo set a thrilling benchmark for the night ahead, and a ripple of excitement moved through the crowd as the full ensemble joined her onstage.

Dressed in coordinated, brightly coloured outfits representing the “rainbow nation” (with neon sneakers adding a contemporary edge), the choir combined visual flair with remarkable discipline.

Every member was fully engaged, physically and vocally.

The first half of the concert focused largely on South African freedom songs, with different soloists showcasing the depth and variety of voices within the ensemble. Photo / Levi Santana

The first half of the concert focused largely on South African freedom songs, with different soloists showcasing the depth and variety of voices within the ensemble.

It closed with a moving tribute to Nelson Mandela, highlighting exquisite harmonies.

The second half broadened into protest songs from the civil rights movement and more contemporary material, generating a few quiet sing-alongs.

The sound produced by just 16 performers was astonishing in its scale and richness.

Their precision and stamina sustained the performance throughout, drawing an increasingly enthusiastic response from the audience.

While all the performers urged us on with equal enthusiasm, choir master Shimmy Jiyane proved especially adept at engaging the crowd, coaxing participation with humour and ease.

A stirring rendition of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah brought the evening to an emotional close, leaving many in tears, including this reviewer.

It was a fitting finale to a performance that was as powerful as it was uplifting. One night only, but worth it.

• The Soweto Gospel Choir performed in Auckland on Sunday and will perform in Wellington and Christchurch this week.

Cate Prestidge is a principal academic and co-ordinator of journalism and communication programmes at Wintec. She has been writing theatre reviews for NZME since 2021.