Watoto Children's Choir

The Watoto Children's Choir is a group of African children choirs based in Kampala, Uganda, at Watoto Church and which tour internationally.[1][2][3] Each is composed of about eighteen to twenty-two children from Uganda. Their tours raise money as well as awareness for the Watoto orphanages in Kampala.

Watoto Children's Choir
Background information
OriginUganda
Instrument(s)Drums, a cappella singing
Years active1994–present
LabelsWatoto Publishing
Websitehttps://www.watoto.com/ watoto.com]

“Watoto” means "Children" in Swahili. The choir is made up of children who have lost one or both parents, often as a result of AIDS.[4] Watoto operate six choirs which tour Asia, Australia, Europe and North and South America. The choirs travel with a team of adult chaperones who look after the children and also manage the day-to-day logistics of the tour on the road. The choir has toured Asia, Australia, Brazil, Canada and China.[5][6]

Their ‘Concerts of Hope’ are a blend of African rhythms, contemporary gospel music, creative dance and story-telling. They have released several albums including “Mambo Number 5”, “Beautiful Africa” and “What Is Love”. Their latest album "Wherever You Will Go” features live music played throughout the concerts on most of the tours.

The Watoto Children's Choirs have performed with award-winning artists including Chris Tomlin, Israel Houghton and Martin Smith. They have also been invited to the UK Houses of Parliament, the Canadian and Australian Parliaments as well as the White House.

As of May 2020, Watoto, the umbrella organisation, is under investigation by Uganda's Internal Security Organisation for alleged breaches of the country's child labour laws, taking children out of the country illegally and placing them at risk. Over 80 children reportedly remain stranded overseas in the US, Malaysia, New Zealand and Brazil after Uganda closed its borders on 23 March. [7] Watoto Church has also been criticised for its hardline stance on single sex marriages.

[8]

References
  1. Watoto Children's choir "Signs & Wonders" concert
  2. Watoto Children’s Choir to kick off UK tour in Canning Town - Home - Newham Recorder
  3. African children’s choir to perform in Ormond Beach | Daytona Times
  4. "Who We Are".
  5. "Happenings school news: YMCA of Hong Kong Christian College" (PDF). South China Morning Post. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2020. Performance of the YMCA at the Hong Kong Christian College in Hong Kong, China.
  6. Y's Opinion May 12 Issue 78. Performance of YMCA at Hong Kong Christian College in Hong Kong, China.
  7. "Uganda megachurch criticised for choir tour as children stranded by Covid-19". TheGuardian.com. 4 May 2020.
  8. Croome, Drazen Jorgic (9 March 2014). "New law drives Uganda's embattled gays deeper into shadows". Reuters.


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