Soweto Gospel Choir – Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre, 29 March 2026: Review & Photo Gallery

Soweto Gospel Choir deliver uplifting spiritual experiences through powerful voices and distinctive African polyrhythms.

The ensemble which can include 30-plus performers, was established in 2002 and drawn from the many African churches in and around the Soweto area in South Africa.

The Choir are heavyweights in World Music. Their albums Blessed, African Spirit and Freedom won the the Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Music in 2006, 2007 and 2019, respectively.

I saw them here last year when they were on the bill for the History of House extravaganza, performing as part of the Auckland Arts Festival of 2025.

They draw from the hard Black Gospel to the traditional Spirituals, and broadening out to encompass Soul, R’n’B, New Orleans to Reggae and Pop.

Their debut public performance was a Nelson Mandela tribute in 2002.

Most of the show they sing in several different African dialects. What we respond to as the audience is the sheer joyous lift we experience in this music

They are a visually striking group on stage. The women are resplendent in multi-coloured traditional costume, beating out the men by a shade.

The percussion leads out the show, with big floor-standing African hand drums, sticks and possibly some syn-drums. Polyrhythms are a constant for the whole show, but it is the voices which are stunning and all-encompassing. Often the vocals are acapella.

It is the massed female choir that carry the music to the celestial level. High piercing sopranos fill the theatre.

The male vocalists bring bold aggression when they feature. When the female soloists unleash, they can be overwhelming with their tribal keening. In the best possible way.

The Soweto Gospel Choir got their start with concerts to Nelson Mandela. They do one tonight which could be Rolihlahla Mandela. It feels like they’re throwing off chains and shackles as the ladies’ soar, matched with the balancing low tones of the males. They celebrate a free society (sung in English) and raise the chant of Amandla.

That takes me right back to the Springbok Tour of 1981, when as protestors we used to chant Amandla at rallies.

A soft piano intro heralds the opening lyrics: When you walk through a storm/ Hold your head up high/ And don’t be afraid of the dark. It’s the Rodgers and Hammerstein chestnut You’ll Never Walk Alone. They preserve the original Pop elements to the song, adding carefully layered afrobeats and building the call-and-response tempo.

A song addressing the home on high, that is heaven of course and a great dramatic demonstration of testifying. Heaven help us all!

Several time they address the front of stage directly and ask people to dance. They do so for Shosholoza, a traditional tribal dance celebration, the entire ensemble getting down and shaking their tail feathers.

Their closing number is an incredible performance of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The ensemble rides this one to the high ceiling and lifts off, the audience all standing and bathing in the glory.

The Soweto Gospel Choir were here to shine the light and give us an appreciative blessing.

Rev. Orange Peel

Photography by Azrie Azizi