The Story of the African Choir

The Story of the African Choir is a musical by Jane Collins

The original text

A piece about a disasterous fundraising mission undertaken by an African choir in England and Scotland (1891 – 1893)[1], based on Collins's article about the choir and utilizing acting, Acapella music and dance to tell the tale. The piece seems to have opened at the Market Theatre in 2007, going on to other performances in various venues over the years.

In 2016 a photographic a contemporary multimedia installation with musical accompaniment called The African Choir 1891, Re-Imagined, and based on the choir’s late nineteenth century trip to England, made its debut at Autograph ABP in London. It had been curated by Renée Mussai, Senior Curator Artistic Programs and Head of Archive at Autograph ABP; songs composed and arranged by Philip Miller and Thuthuka Sibisi.

It would appear that what is referred to as "a new dance performance" (though probably a new version of the Collins one) began touring Europe and North America in 2023 under the title called Broken Chord[2].

Translations and adaptations

Performance history in South Africa

2007: Performed at the Market Theatre in July

2019: Produced by the Team Community Development Center, performed in March at the Guild Theatre in East London, directed by Napo Masheane, musical direction by Ntsika Ngxanga. The cast consisted of Lindiwe Ndlovu; Buyile Geza ; Nompilo Shazi; Aphiwe Dumako; Abongiwe Ntshuca; Beauty Nodada; Vatiswa Bunguza; Deon ;Bandile Flepu; Siyanda Matwa; Sinelizwi Xuza; Bongani Ndaba; Sigqibo Dyani; Vuyolwethu Nyangwa