Click HERE to download the song from

The South African Zulu Choir recently completed a hugely successful three week tour of Australia. The Choir came to Australia as part of “Collaboration 4 Change” – a global movement that is creating positive social change through music.

While in Australia, the Choir performed at the President’s Lunch at the MCG for the Essendon vs. Hawthorn match on Saturday 29th August. The Choir also helped to promote the AFL’s presence in South Africa through a feature story on Channel 9’s “Today” show.

On Saturday 12th September, prior to returning to South Africa, the Choir recorded an inspirational version of the St Kilda Saints theme song, “When The Saints Go Marching In”, in Perth.

The purpose of the song is to raise awareness about the incredible growth of the AFL in South Africa and the “Collaboration 4 Change” project, and to raise money for young people in South Africa. “footyWILD”, as the game is known in South Africa, has more than 18,000 participants in four provinces across the nation, and the South African National Championships are currently taking place.

100% of the profits from the sale of the song will go to sustainable education programs for young South Africans as well as to members of the South African Zulu Choir. Click here to download the song, or SEARCH on iTunes “Zulu Choir - Oh When the Saints”

“When C4C asked me to be involved in the 2009 South African Zulu Choir Tour, I was thrilled. At last, here was my chance to ride the coat tails of some of the finest singers in the world! I immediately called the organisers with several suggestions, including changing the name of the tour to “Sammy J and friends”, and allowing me to compose the official anthem.

S. A. Zulu Choir performing at St. Michael’s Anglican Photo: Jonathan Harrison

A relaxing evening last night turned into a night on the town for those choir members who were still awake, which just happened to be most of the boys. Chapel St. was the location, an excellent presentation of Melbourne’s youthful and vibrant night life, and a great way for our Durban brothers to unwind. Their African rhythms showed as they demonstrated to locals what dancing really is: crumping, the Zulu robot and synchronised manoeuvres - all to house / dance beats.

Today offered a much more relaxed start, a sleep-in until lunchtime before moving straight to St. Michael’s Anglican Church in Nth. Carlton in preparation fo the evening’s worship service. The worship service itself was a true representation of the choir’s faith, though music. The congregation heard testimony from SA Zulu Choir drummer Freddy Whales, uplifting the congregation and warming their hearts. The gospel songs to which the congregation worshiped were familiar to regular Austalian church-goers, and are also common to churches in South Africa. Yet another example of how similar our two cultures are, and yet why is it that their acceptance into Australian culture has been such a shock to them?

Nic Mackay and Dawn Mlotshwa with the South African Zulu Choir in an interview with Radio Australia Photo: Jonathan Harrison

This morning was a time for firsts. For a few of the boys from Durban it was their first time catching public transport in Australia, and for at least one of the hosts it was the first opportunity to use a Free early-bird train ticket. The choir sang for Ross and John on 3AW Breakfast and soon after for Radio Australia, which broadcasts internationally. The rest of the day was a time to relax for a moment and take in life as a Melbournian views it. The choir took full advantage of some free tickets offered by Village Cinemas at Crown, and enjoyed coffee by Melbourne’s iconic upside-down river while swapping stories with locals.

The remainder of the evening was spent with billeting hosts, sharing roast dinners and doing very Australian things (like watching TV and sleeping). Some very exciting things happened today, no greater achievement than developing lifelong relationships with one another; breaking down social barriers that exist between South Africans and the rest of the world, breaking down presumptions of each other’s culture - the very purpose of the trip. Understanding.

Video Story courtesy of theage.com.au

This video was posted on theage.com.au on 25 August and shows the choir in the studio with New Zealand rock group Evermore. The song Lay Your Weapons Down, was originally written by the Evermore boys, however as John Hume (Evermore frontman) explains, members of the choir ‘Zulu-fy’ the song and give it a soul. The track’s release date has not been set, C4C expect it to be available before Christmas.

Some members of the choir left at the break of dawn for Radio and Print interviews in Ballarat, in preparation for the continuation of the tour through Regional Victoria. The remainder of the choir headed to Huntingtower Secondary School in conjunction with the Oaktree Foundation’s ‘Schools 4 Schools’ roadtrip. Students were joined by the choir in dancing, singing and jewellery making workshops which were aimed at helping the students to appreciate traditional and urban Zulu culture.

The afternoon saw last minute preparations for the choir’s first public show: Toorak College, Mt. Eliza. The choir had the entire audience on their feet dancing and singing, at one point even inviting people on stage to join the party! This show received great reception from the public, but logistically will prove difficult as we all got home after midnight and had to be up well before the rest of civilisation for some epic radio interviews on 3AW and ABC Radio Australia.

Tickets for the St. Kilda Town Hall show are going quick, so get in early with Ticketmaster and don’t miss out! Don’t forget that we have the e-newsletter on the homepage that will keep you up to date with the choir’s movements.

South African Zulu Choir performing for Richard Stubbs’ show on ABC Radio Melbourne - 26.08.2009 (courtesy of abc.net.au)

Over the last few days the “Collaboration 4 Change” South African Zulu Choir has received significant Media Coverage across Print, Radio and TV News. Below are some links to some of the articles seen in Australia’s Major media outlets:

25.08.2009 The Australian - “Local rockers team up with Zulu Choir”

25.08.2009 The Age - “Breaking barriers with a little music harmony”

25.08.2009 The Sydney Morning Herald - “Evermore and the Zulu Choir” (Photo Gallery)

26.08.2009 ABC Melbourne - “Zulu choir performs live” (Video and short article)

Photo courtesy of theage.com.au

A slightly less hectic affair, after yesterday’s epic recording session with band Evermore. The morning was used for a final dress rehearsal of the choir’s public shows, and an opportunity to ready themselves for the remaining three weeks of the tour.

The afternoon was filled with a radio interview on ABC Melbourne with Richard Stubbs. The choir produced a monumental sound that distracted surrounding offices within the ABC centre (ABC Melbourne - “Zulu choir performs live”). This in fact attracted the attention of other ABC presenters, and they were literally queuing up to meet with the choir.

No rest for the children of Durban S.A., as they travelled to Jolimont for a private corporate show with one of the tour’s financial sponsors. The show saw lawyers and respected businessmen dancing and singing along with the Zulu Choir; an encouraging reception for the C4C team.

Tomorrow sees a hectic media schedule, the first Schools workshops and performances and the first Public Show at Toorak College, Mt. Eliza.

Zulu Choir at The Base Recording Studios with Evermore (courtesy of theage.com.au)

The choir arrived safely last night / early this morning after a few delays at Terminals in both Durban and Perth International airports. However, that did not affect their energy levels when they stepped into ‘The Base Recording Studios’ today with Rock-group Evermore. In collaboration the South African Zulu Choir and Evermore recorded the foundations for an evocative power-ballad to be called “Lay Your Weapons Down”. The track will be released in a few months (date to be confirmed).

The choir also managed to attract significant media attention, appearing on SBS News, Dylan and Cal from NOVA100 Radio, and articles seen in The Australian, The Age and Herald Sun newspapers.

The reason why they are attracting such attention, is because they are trully talented individuals, who have a message to share with Australia through the best way they know how: music. Come and Experience their message at one of the ‘C4C’ Zulu Choir Concerts.

TICKETS are selling fast, so get in quick while the choir is still in Melbourne (Final show in Melb on Sunday!) - see TOUR page for details.