South Africa has always had a rich choral tradition. Ladysmith Black Mambazo and The Soweto Gospel choir are perhaps the most well-known groups to come out of the country, and share their beautiful melodies on the world stage. With this in mind our tour guide Michael was inspired to create the Coffeebeans Choral Music Tour. The aim of the tour is to help visitors better understand the Mother City and her people through music and lyrical content.

The tour takes place in two parts and explores Cape Town’s love of choral music through two intimate performances in the homes of choir members in the city. The first part of the tour sees us invited for dinner and a performance at the home of Mam’ Sheila in Gugulethu. At her home we meet Maphelo, Bonga and Nolusindiso, an acapella trio who go by the name The Gugulethu Choral Gospel Stars. The trio shines as they captivates us with local gospel songs, traditional and ceremonial hymns sung in isiXhosa. Soon, we discover what makes black South African choral music so distinct and loved the world over. The choir’s encouragement for the audience to join in and show their appreciation through its participation is something we won’t soon forget. It’s not long before the choir’s evocative songs and voices have planted themselves in all of our hearts and on our lips. And very soon after this desire turns to dancing, singing and ululating.

Once we’ve shared a meal with the members of the Gugulethu Gospel Stars and gotten to know them and the meanings of their songs a little better, we say our goodbyes and leave for Mitchells Plain. This is the home of the young men who perform as Beyside. The group was formed in 2010 when they were scouted to perform during the Soccer World Cup because of their ability to cover a smash hit of the Temptations. The group soon serenades us with a variety of Dutch, Afrikaans, English, Spanish and Cape Malay hymns. After the performance we sit down for a spread of snacks and discuss the history and stories of Mitchells Plain and the District Six community.

South Africa’s choral music has always carried within it tales of everyday life and told of the struggles and triumphs of ordinary people. Whether it’s praise hymns, songs about migrant labour on the mines or a love song about meeting at the riverside, choral music in Mzansi is a storytelling tool like no other and one that Michael and the choirs on the Coffeebeans tour make sing. The tour is a refreshing take on South Africa’s history and an exploration of life in Cape Town. Needless to say we leave with the appreciation of the universal language of music, but more so the unique voices of the Mother City.