"We wanted people to be
able to see the human face of a crisis in Africa," explained Bill Wildey,
the Concert Tour Coordinator with Church World Service, as he introduced
Sinikithemba, an HIV+ choir from Durban, South Africa, who were
joining the congregation of Judson Memorial Church in Greenwich Village
for their worship service and shared meal. "We wanted people to be able
to interact with that face, but also to understand the hopeful face of
the crisis.
That
is what this choir represents," he concluded.
As Sinikithemba (which means "place of hope" in the Zulu
language) then sang three songs a cappella, persons present were almost
stunned by the beauty of their sound. Their voices seemed to just pour
forth, so rich and full of life, with something that seemed both urgent
and soothing at the same time. Even as their singing was tremendously
precise, with wonderfully tight harmonies and intricate rhythms, it
wasn't one bit stiff or staid. It had that raw quality of coming
straight from the soul.
And you understand why it's called the "Give Us Hope" concert tour:
you feel this is what hope sounds like. There is the pain of something
needing to be overcome, but also joy soaring out of it.
As they enjoyed the music, Judson members were getting a preview of
what people would hear at Riverside Church, the first stop on
Sinikithemba's multi-city, East Coast fundraising concert tour with
the renowned US musician Tim Janis. The tour will then move on to
different cities in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania,
Massachusetts, as well as Washington DC.
The tour is being hosted and sponsored by the international
humanitarian aid agency Church World Service (CWS) in order to raise
funds for CWS' HIV/AIDS programs in Africa and for local AIDS charities.
They also hope to raise greater consciousness about the profound toll
AIDS is taking on Africa.
Due to the
stigma of being HIV+ in South Africa, and due to the inherent possible
danger to people's safety if their status becomes known, CWS attempts to
maintain as much personal anonymity for each choir member as possible.
However, after the service the congregants were able to meet and mingle
with members of Sinikithemba as they all shared a meal together.
A singer who had thrilled the crowd with his solo part in one number
said, "For most of us, this is the first time we've been to this
country. We're glad to be able to bring our message of hope, and we pray
that some day soon God will give us the cure for this virus." He added,
"I would like to commend Church World Service for giving us this
opportunity to come here and to have the chance to talk to other people
as we are talking to you today."
Another singer, who looks so vibrant and joyful when she sings that
it does one's heart good just to look at her, commented as well, "I'm so
happy to be in New York and to see the people enjoying our singing. I
hope something is discovered that will make this virus go away because
we need to live; we need to be with our kids. Right now I'm missing my
country, and I'm missing my little girl who is 5 years old. Otherwise,
I'm doing just fine!"
Throughout Africa, especially South Africa, the stigma associated
with HIV/AIDS continues to stand in the way of AIDS prevention and the
willingness of people to seek testing or treatment. As one Sinikithemba
choir member explained, "There is no support for people who are HIV+ in
the communities where we live. People point fingers at others,
condemning them for being HIV+."
But Sinikithemba is fighting that stigma with health care and hope.
Said another choir member, "Faith is so important. It gives us something
to believe in. AIDS is just another burden on top of lots of existing
problems, such as having no job, no nice house, worrying about your
children and their school reports and no money. Faith helps you to keep
going, step by step, day by day."
For further information about the "Give Us Hope" concert tour, see
the Church World Service Website at www.churchworldservice.org or
contact CWS at 1-800-297-1516.
By Donna Lamb
