Above: Box of 200 Robben Island Singers CDs that Groundswell sent to South Africa.

Groundswell recently sent two hundred Robben Island Singers CDs to our community arts partner in Kwa Mashu, the largest township in South Africa. Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre, located near Durban, nurtures the talents of local youth in performing arts and media. Ekhaya also sells Robben Island Singers CDs and promotes the Robben Island Singers through its local radio station. Muntu Nxumalo, musical director of the Robben Island Singers, has begun developing a new radio show at Ekhaya. His goal is to teach the youth to perform as a chorus for the Robben Island Singers.

Edmund Mhlongo, founder of Ekhaya Multi-Arts Centre, came to Chicago recently. Visiting schools with Groundswell co-founder, Jeff Spitz, Edmund introduced Prosser high school students to music, media and the challenges faced by contemporary South African teenagers (see a video clip from Prosser High School).

You can download Robben Island Singers songs from South Africa’s freedom struggle.

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