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Following recent stops throughout southwest Missouri, the Watoto Children’s Choir, traveling from Africa to perform throughout the United States, continues its tour across the Show-Me state. The choir seeks to raise awareness about orphaned and vulnerable children in Africa through the power of music. KSMU’s Samantha Nichols tells us more.
Every child in the Watoto Children’s Choir has lost one or both parents, often to tragic conflicts or diseases. Proudly singing, “I am not forgotten,” the children are expressing a belief in their self-worth as well as a commitment to their faith in God. Multiple choirs perform all over the world and one of those choirs is currently performing across Missouri.
Watoto is a holistic child-care solution that places orphaned children into new homes with up to seven other children and a housemother. The homes are constructed to resemble traditional African villages, providing a familiar environment for the children who seek refuge through the Watoto program. Children also have access to a school and clinic. The program was founded by Gary and Marilyn Skinner and serves as a ministry for the Watoto Church in Kampala, Uganda. Phillip Mugerwa, the choir’s team leader, explains the origin of the traveling choir.
“And in 1994, God spoke to them and told them to just put together the group of children they had and start traveling for two main reasons: just to share the love of Jesus with everybody and also to raise awareness about the plight of the orphaned child in Uganda and in Africa,” said Mugerwa.
Mugerwa said that over a thousand children have travelled with the choir.
Watoto offers a number of other services to their communities including a program for babies and a program for vulnerable women. All of these services stem from a religious motivation to provide hope for those who have been affected by disease or war.
“We are a church. And that’s one thing that we want to tell everybody. And the songs we do are really worship songs. The songs we sing are to God. And most of them carry a message to help people realize that there is always hope, despite the situation,” said Mugerwa.
The history of Christianity in Africa is a long and complicated one. Dr. Ashley Leinweber, an assistant professor in the Political Science department at Missouri State University, noted a 2006 study by the Pew Research Center indicating a global rise in Pentecostalism with Africa being particularly receptive to this movement.
“The Pentecostal movement has been incredibly successful and is actually sort of a source of contention with other more longstanding Christian churches on the continent,” said Leinweber.
The rise in Pentecostalism alongside other religious influences has affected local politics. A particularly controversial issue across Africa and especially in countries like Uganda is homosexuality. Gary Skinner was quoted in 2007 as saying he condemns all inhuman practices, including homosexuality. Dr. Leinweber noted a connection between the spread of religions like Christianity and Islam in Africa and an increasing belief that homosexuality is a sin. The religious focus on this question has generated interest across the continent.
“I actually was in the Congo last summer and was there when the DOMA law was overturned here in the United States and I had so many people come to talk to me about that and say, you know, ‘What’s going on over there, how could you guys do something like this?” said Dr. Leinwber.
Dr. Leinweber noted the importance of recognizing the good work that faith-based organizations do and considering this alongside controversial aspects of these groups.
While the relationship between evangelism and Africa is posing new questions to scholars, activists and religious leaders, there is no question that this movement has had a huge impact on the continent.
For Mugerwa, what matters most is the transformation of a vulnerable child into an excited future leader and a belief in the power of hope.
“It doesn’t matter what situation you come from, it doesn’t matter where you’re from, it doesn’t really matter what you’re in, there is always hope and Jesus is our hope,” said Mugerwa.
The Watoto Choir will continue to perform across the state over the next month. More information about their schedule can be found on their website, www.watoto.com.