Joyce Keitumetse Moholoagae

South African Township Singing

Since August 2006, South African lyric soprano, Joyce Moholoagae, has inspired thousands of singers in her role as workshop leader with Mbawula around the UK. Her instinctive knowledge of African culture and song was enhanced by study at the University of Natal where she gained a Diploma in music performance. Further study for a postgraduate diploma in opera at the Royal Academy of Music and the experience of several hundred Mbawula choral workshops has developed a set of skills enabling her to effortlessly move between the traditions of both African song and classical vocal production.

A native speaker of several African languages, Joyce is able to interpret, inflect and translate meaning and articulation to choral singers from different backgrounds and cultures, regardless of experience and skill level. With Mbawula, she has inspired singers from the ages of 5 to 75 to sing confidently in Zulu, Sesotho, Xhosa and Setswana and has provided a focus, context and framework for this joyful and profound music.

With a natural and welcoming style, Joyce Moholagae also has the necessary skills to draw young (and less young) people into the world of African dance and movement: this results in a spectacular explosion of song and dance on stage with Mbawula and illustrates the skills possessed by Joyce to inspire the head, heart and feet.