African Children's Choir touring region

ST JOHN – Area residents can look forward to multiple opportunities to see an international choir that will be coming to tour the Spokane area, including communities of the west plains.

The African Children's Choir, is bringing it's 52nd choir through the area from Sept. 20 through Sept. 27 and playing six shows in and around Spokane, including a show in St. John.

This performance will be Sunday, Sept. 24, at 10:30 AM at the Christian Life Assembly Church, 302 S Park St.

The choir is part of a larger group called Music for Life, which provides opportunity for thousands of children living in impoverished circumstances.

According to Sandra Nakalanda, who is leading the choir during the current tour, it also helps provide educational opportunities and helps them to experience parts of the world they would not have the chance to otherwise.

"This has provided myself and so many others the opportunities to see and learn about different parts of the world," Nakalanda said. "Plus, we get to help share our culture with the people we play shows for."

"So, we get to educate the crowd as well as provide music," she added.

Nakalanda joined the group in 2003 and was part of the 24th choir, and has taken the opportunity full circle to where she is now mentoring kids and leading the choir on tour.

She said seeing the children thrive is the best part.

"To see them embrace the music and shine for the crowd is what makes it worthwhile," Nakalanda said. "To see them discover and use their talents is what the program is about."

The African Children's Choir is composed of African children, aged 10 to 12 years old, all who come from vulnerable backgrounds and have faced hardship and lack of education.

However, they represent the potential of the African child to become leaders for a better future.

Nakalanda said it helps the children find things they are interested in as well.

"It helps the children see there is something more out in the world," Nakalanda said. "It can help them work to learn about leadership and bring long term change for their families and communities."

"I like to think of it as self-exploration for good," she added.