Swedish Choir Visits Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum

Interesting costumes, warmed up voices and an unexpected Xhosa song – these were some of the highlights of the Swedish Choir Event at the Lwandle Migrant Labour Museum on Saturday 31 October 2015.

In partnership with the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS), the museum hosted a day where community choirs could participate, with the main event being the performance by the visiting Swedish choir. 

The visitors also had an opportunity to take a tour of the museum, which they greatly appreciated and enjoyed. They were taught about and discussed South Africa’s rich history. They did not shy away from asking questions and taking pictures, and they were happy to learn about the country’s great diversity.

After the tour, everyone gathered in the museum as they enriched one another in song. Abanthandi Boxolo, the Lwandle community choir, started off by performing some songs, engaging with their audience and making sure they felt included. The Swedish choir then took to the stage and performed some of their local Swedish music, and surprised all South Africans present with a Xhosa song, which they had practised earlier and confidently and enthusiastically performed.

Thobeka Mathimba, the curator of the museum, said she was happy that they could organise such great entertainment for their visitors. “I feel very proud of this event and I am very happy that it was such a great success.”

DCAS supports museums in order to give communities and visitors a sense of local history. Communities should support events at their local museums. Let us continue to showcase our history and bring people closer to one another BETTER TOGETHER.