by Lois Gallo, Public Relations
Native harmonies swelled from the back of the sanctuary as colorfully-clad young Africans weaved their way to the platform. Swirling to the rhythms, their beat and spirit were infectious as the audience rose to join them. With easy melodies and actions in which even the children participated, the sanctuary rocked with the infusion of a variety of African languages presented a capella or with simple instrumentation (keyboard and bongo drums).
This was the scene Wednesday evening, Oct. 19, at Hope’s mid-week service. Over a special African-inspired dinner in the fellowship hall prior to the concert, the Afrizo leader, Hellen Mtawali, spoke about the group in an interview.
Hellen started the musical group at Daystar University in Nairobi, Kenya as a thank you for the education and inspiration she received there while getting a Masters degree. She wanted to give back and help her University to spread the Gospel and raise scholarship funds for those who could not afford to attend this Christian Liberal Arts College. This tour to the U.S. is their third foreign tour, arranged by the branch office in Minnesota. Spurred on by the talent she saw as a faculty music professor, she developed a group of 120 students from all disciplines who form the main Afrizo group. Out of those 120, only 9 students are chosen to make the American tour from mid-August to mid-November.
In a question and answer time during the concert, Hope discovered that none of these gifted, touring musicians are music majors. Most of the undergrads in the group were studying Communications with a Public Relations major or were Management Information Systems students. Although about 80% of Kenyans claim Christianity as their religion, the goal of Afrizo and the University is to “educate Jesus-centered servant leaders to transform Africa.” What a great vision!
Afrizo’s music was presented in English, Swahili and various tribal languages. Kenyans learn English in kindergarten and grow up speaking it. Hellen speaks 16 languages, herself. “If you learn 60 songs from a tribe, you will learn most of their language in those songs,” she smiled. Her love for music and tribal cultures had a side benefit of learning so many languages! Hellen grew up loving languages as her father, a linguist, would involve the family in contests with the languages. A talented and passionate leader, Hellen not only writes many of the songs, but choreographs the loving flowing movements the group performs as they sing. Surprisingly, she first learned music by ear, then studied theory and learned to sight-read in college.
When asked about their experience touring in the U.S., Hellen shared both challenges and blessings. They have a packed schedule and stay in a different place almost every night on tour. Most of the members find they are gaining some weight, as they are not used to our type of food and enjoy tasting everything! Plus, they are on the road and not getting the same amount of exercise. But they do enjoy traveling and seeing so much of our country, with beautiful scenery from the East to the West coast, and many points north and south. On this road trip, they had an interesting experience when a restaurant owner asked them to sing after they had dined there, and then gave them their
