Kilele at the Kenya High Commission’s Office in South Africa

Strathmore University's Kilele Choir jetted back in the early morning hours of 22nd April after a successful concert tour of South Africa. The climax of the tour was an invitational concert performance at the University of Pretoria's centenary celebrations on 19th April at The Atrium in the university's main campus in Hartfield, Pretoria.

The chief guests at the centenary celebration concert were the Kenyan High Commissioner to the Republic of South Africa Ambassador Tom Amolo, and the Chancellor of the University of Pretoria, Prof Nkulu. The concert which was preceded by a dinner was by invitation only. Apart from Kilele choir that was scheduled to perform last, other choirs on stage were UP Chorale of the University of Pretoria and the world acclaimed TUKS camerata who were also the hosts of Kilele choir.

Kilele choir lived up to its name as one of the best choirs in Kenya and got a standing ovation from the audience at the end of their 40 minutes performance. At the request of the audience, the choir went back on stage and once again did Malaika, a popular Kenyan love song. There were a number of Kenyans in the audience and they were very happy to see a Kenyan group performing in South Africa especially after the chaos that rocked Kenya early this year.

On the previous day (Friday 18th April), Kilele choir had performed in Johannesburg at a concert held at the University of Johannesburg's Sanlam Auditorium. It was a joint concert with the university's Bunting Road Choir. The evening concert divided into parts had a mixture of music ranging from Handel's Messiah to traditional African music. It concluded with a joint mass choir singing of Jambo Bwana, a famous Kenyan song.

After the concert which ended at 11.00pm choristers from both universities and top officials of the University of Johannesburg proceeded to a formal dinner organized by the Department of Arts and Culture. Earlier in the day, Kilele Choir did a tour of Johannesburg visiting suburbs like Soweto where it went to the famous Hector Pieterson Memorial Museum, the site where the acclaimed musical Sarafina was shot. It also visited Nelson Mandela's former house in Soweto and the Walter Sisulu Square.

Albert Apela (left), Ambassador Amolo (right) and members of Kilele

In the afternoon, Kilele held a workshop cum cultural exchange with the Bunting Road Choir . Both choirs learnt a lot from each other and look forward to a lasting relationship that will be of mutual benefit. On Sunday 20th April, the choir traveled over 60 km to the north of Pretoria to a town called Hammanskraal where it had a sacred songs performance to an elated crowd at Elim Centre.

Back in Pretoria in the afternoon, the Choir manager of TUKS camerata and SU's Dean of Students threw a surprise birthday party for Sarah Gathigia and Diana Mutua. The small party caught the choir by surprise since in the past, birthdays had not been celebrated during tours and no hint had been given about this one. In the evening, Kilele attended a re-run of the 2008 University of Pretoria Easter Cantata sung by TUKS camerata, the re-run was done due to great public demand. It was a sterling performance.

On Monday 21st April, Kilele was hosted to a farewell breakfast by its host – the University of Pretoria. In attendance also was the head of the department of culture and members of TUKS camerata. Kilele then proceeded to pay a courtesy visit to the Kenya High Commission in Pretoria where it was met by the High Commissioner Ambassador Tom Amolo. He was very happy to receive the choir and also thanked it for organising the concert tour which went a long way to show that Kenya was a safe place despite the January chaos. Kilele choir performed a few songs for the high commission staff including Amb. Amolo's favourite songs Ni wara nono, a Luo sacred song.

In the afternoon, Kilele had a cultural exchange workshop with the UP Chorale – one of the five choirs of the University of Pretoria. Both choirs made presentations, exchanged musical instruments and taught each the others local songs. It was an eye opener for both choirs and the beginning of a partnership.

UP Chorale specialises in traditional African music and have toured extensively too just like their counterparts TUKS camerata. The relationship between the Kilele and the TUKS Camerata goes back to 2005 when an alumnus of SU introduced Kilele to the South African choir. In June 2006, Kilele invited TUKS to Kenya for a concert tour. They really enjoyed themselves and promised to invite Kilele to their country.

Since then, the two choirs have been in touch and have shared a lot. Mid last year, Kilele received an invitation from TUKS camerata to go to their country for a concert tour and also to be the guest choir at their Centenary Celebrations. Kilele accepted the invitation and immediately started preparing for the tour.

The tour organised by SU's Office of the Dean of Students and the Music Department of the University of Pretoria was a great success and served to open many avenues for the choir. "Apart from the performances in SA, I was also looking our choir learning from TUKS camerata who are a world renowned choir that has won many international competitions and also forming stronger linkages with one of the best universities in Africa. With the experience gained during the tour, the choir looks forward to being one of the best in the continent," said Paul Ochieng, the Dean of Students, Strathmore University.

"I was very happy when we received standing ovations at all concerts and also when audiences requested us to re-do some songs.  It was the highest appreciation one could give us for the hard work we had put into preparing for the tour," said Mr Albert Apela, Kilele's Conductor.