As South Africa continues to celebrate Human Rights Day, one Cape Town choir is turning song into a bridge between communities.
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As South Africa continues to celebrate Human Rights Day, one Cape Town choir is turning song into a bridge between communities.
The Rosa choir, which was started in 2012, brings together members from across the city to sing in isiXhosa, English, and Afrikaans, creating a space where people from different cultural and social backgrounds can connect.
The choir’s name was inspired by the iconic Cape-Malay Dutch song “Rosa,” often sung at Cape weddings and social gatherings, reflecting the group’s roots in cultural inclusivity.
Choir members come from all walks of life, including gospel singers, youth activists, casual workers, professionals, and veteran Malay choir performers.
The choir has appointed a new musical director and will resume weekly rehearsals at Artscape Theatre in April, with plans to record a professional video to showcase their work.
According to choir founding member Kay Jaffer, singing together helps break down barriers and fosters a sense of unity and joy among members.
"By the time choir members reach practice at the Artscape theatre in the city centre on a Saturday afternoon, they've travelled either from hours away or for just a short distance, from homes across a city deeply divided by Apartheid's spatial planning and social engineering.
"Getting to practice can involve climbing aboard a network of public transport and private lifts, with some singers having to wait outside police stations for rides due to rampant crime where they live. In the age of information technology, connectivity Apartheid adds another hindrance as some choir members have either no data or network connection to communicate".
However, as the music starts, the words flow and the healing power of the choir takes over.
“Singing together and sharing the joy of singing helps to break down these barriers and promotes cohesion. The arts, and especially music and singing, are powerful tools to do this. That's one of the reasons we also sing in the three regional languages.”
She said the choir’s aim for this year is to expand its membership and perform more publicly.
“We have also recruited a new choir director, and we are very excited about that.”
Bass singer Aphiwe Magodla, 21, of Gugulethu, has been a member of the choir for two years said that being part of Rosa gives him a sense of purpose.
“Being in the choir contributes a sense of purpose and balance to my life. It gives me a space where I can express myself freely, connect with others and be fully present in the moment. Singing helps me release stress and emotions that I don't always have words for, and it reminds me to slow down and breathe.”
IOL