On Feb. 9, Ladysmith’s Bethel Tabernacle will be filled with both culture and hope as the Watoto Children’s Choir comes to town.
“The concert is very high energy, they’ll have the African chanting, they’ll have the drums … and their smiles are amazing,” said church pastor Rob Bedard. “They’re happy children, and it’s not an act.
“They dance together beautifully and wear these incredible African costumes.”
The Watoto Children’s Choir is based out of Uganda, where war has left the country in peril, Bedard said.
“They have slaughtered the moms and dads and left many orphaned; they have employed children as war soldiers — it is a very sad state of existence for these kids and some of them have been mutilated,” he said.
There has also been a huge epidemic of HIV and AIDS, and more than half of the population is younger than 15.
“It’s an international crisis,” Bedard said.
Watoto, which means “children” in Swahili, was founded in Kampala by missionaries Gary and Marilyn Skinner in the mid 1990s. Their vision was to help local orphaned children to realize their potential to one day be Uganda’s next leaders and give them the hope to realize that goal by providing them with proper food, shelter and education.
Watoto children live in “Villages of Hope,” guarded compounds to protect them from outside rebels, and are overseen by a communal mama who cooks, cleans and rears them.
The Watoto choir tours across the globe and visits Ladysmith approximately once every two years.
“What they’re trying to do is raise international awareness and raise funds so they can build more villages of hope and they can provide the food and education for these children who can’t afford it,” Bedard said. “This is a Christian organization, so there is a faith element to it, but the whole mission is to give these children hope.”
There will be no admission charge for entrance to the concert, but donations are welcomed, and merchandise will be available for purchase.
As well, people can learn about the Watoto child and university student sponsorship programs.
“Last year, they had jewelry that was being used for entrepreneurial women whose husbands had been slaughtered,” Bedard said.
The Watoto Children’s Choir will perform Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the concert is approximately two hours long.
“It’s always a highlight for our people,” Bedard said. “They’re very inspiring.”
For more information, call 250-245-8221.
