Hutton Honors College

University of Namibia Choir Performs at IU

Performance scheduled for Monday, September 27 at 7:30 p.m., Grand Hall, Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. Refreshments served.

The UNAM (University of Namibia) Choir has been wowing audiences around the world, from heads of states at official gatherings to the crowds that gather around impromptu performances in airports and malls. Whether in Scotland, Germany, the United States, or at home, these talented and enthusiastic college students have been bringing audiences to their feet and inspiring crowds to break into dance. We invite you to see them perform and to meet informally with them afterwards to talk about their music, their country, their university, and their impressions of the United States. This event is co-sponsored by the Honors College, the African American Arts Institute, the Wells Scholars Program, the Office of International Programs, and the African Studies Program. Everyone is welcome!

"They're really just terrific fun, and they're college age, which is terrific fun," said Charlene Brown, director of extracurricular programming for the Honors College. "There is an extraordinary blend of voices in this style of choir, and a terrific blend of movement and voice."

Created in 1997, the 50-strong youthful UNAM Choir is considered one of Namibia's cultural gems. They prefer to sing in four-voice a capella that is traditional in Africa, occasionally accompanied by drums or a small band. Their repertoire consists of religious, concert, traditional, and folk music. They sing in all Namibian languages-six African and three European (German, English, and Afrikaans).

The Choir has toured in Africa and Europe, with performances that have been described as "a breathtaking kaleidoscope of the finest choral and dance traditions and cultural rituals of Namibia's various indigenous communities and of the African continent itself, often woven into a tapestry of original musicals." Their performances have received standing ovations at state events, international conferences, cultural festivals, and competitions. They have even evoked spontaneous public dancing during impromptu exhibitions in airport lounges and shopping malls.

Their visit to the U.S. is thanks to invitations and support from the State Department, the Yale Glee Club Choir, and other universities like IU. For this inaugural U.S. visit, the Choir, with a smaller group of 20 voices under the direction of its conductor, Bonnie Pereko, has produced a brand-new program that is said to be more dramatic, inspirational, and entertaining than anything it has done before.

In addition to the Monday night concert, the UNAM Choir will join the classes of the International Vocal Ensemble taught by Mary Goetze of the School of Music and of the African American Choral Ensemble directed by James Mumford of the African American Arts Institute. They will tour the Musical Arts Center and have an informal gathering with undergraduates in the Wells Scholar Program and the Honors College. They will also tape a show at the Radio and Television Services as guests of The Friday Zone. The show, hosted by Echo Shapell, is WTIU's Emmy Award-winning children's series that airs on PBS stations covering the Indianapolis metro area and south-central Indiana.

On September 29, the choir will spend the day and give a performance at IU East, which has had an important linkage program with the University of Namibia for the past two years. They leave from Indianapolis on September 30.

The UNAM Choir's visit to Indiana University is sponsored by the Office of International Programs, African Studies Program, the Office of the Vice President for Institutional Development and Student Affairs, and the Office of the Chancellor, IU East.

Information for this article came from Roxanne Newman in the Office of International Programs and from Charlene Brown of the Honors College and Wells Scholars Program.