Ndlovu Youth Choir has done SA proud
|Published
BITTERSWEET: The Ndlovu Youth Choir said farewell to America's Got Talent. Photo: Supplied. BITTERSWEET: The Ndlovu Youth Choir said farewell to America's Got Talent. Photo: Supplied.
Villagers at the Moutse, Limpopo, home of the Ndlovu Youth Choir on Wednesday were hopeful the choir would win America’s Got Talent title, but even if they didn't the choir has put its home-town on the map.
The winner of season 14 of the popular TV show was announced in the early hours South African time on day as Kodi Lee
But in a post the Ndlovu Youth Choir which has wowed the judges up to the final round, said its AGT journey had come to an end but this was only the beginning.
"We are so excited for what lies ahead, and we look forward to continuing sharing love, unity and above all hope," the choir posted on social media.
The choir has won the hearts not only of Americans but people back home and across the world. On Facebook they tell their story of how they started as an activity of the Ndlovu Care Group in Moutse.
Dressed in sunflower yellow, the choir put their trademark Afro-pop spin on Africa by Toto in the finals, receiving a standing ovation from the audience and judges for their joyful performance.
Speaking to Jacaranda FM, the conductor of the choir, Ralf Schmitt, said their unique opening to the song was written by one of the choristers. He said he could not be prouder of the choir which had worked very hard throughout the competition.
Lead singer Nhlanhla “Cord” Somo’s aunt and guardian Sarah Ndlovu said she was proud of her, but now the competition is over she wants her to "prioritise school work.”
Lethabo Zungu, a resident of the hometown, said: “I watched them all the time on TV and I couldn't be more proud. We are so proud of them.”
The choir got to join runners up, the Detroit Youth Choir and Kygo during Wednesday's performance of Whitney Houston's "Higher Love" during the two hour finale, described by judge Simon Cowell as the best he has sat in on.
The winner is a blind singer who has autism who won the most votes from the American audience. He jumped for joy with his mother Tina when the announcement was made. He wins $1million. Among the other finalists was V. Unbeatable, an acrobatic group, Light Balance Kids, a Ukranian dance group, the US Voices of Service, Ryan Niemiller a comedian, and a number of young soloists.
Twitter was abuzz with people thanking the choir for their time on the show and wishing them luck for the future:
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NdlovuYouthChoir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NdlovuYouthChoireven though you didn’t win but being on the finale was already win to us. You made Mzansi proud. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/SbB5ttlCfC
— STOP Violence Against Women &Children 🇿🇦 (@EzamaCirha)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NdlovuYouthChoir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="font-size: 12pt;">#NdlovuYouthChoirgot eliminated in this round of #AGTFinale.....what a journey it has been.thank you for putting SA 🇿🇦 high
— Malusi (@malusi_dzanibe)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NdlovuYouthChoir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="font-size: 12pt;">#NdlovuYouthChoiryou may not have won #AGTFinale tonight. But you have won the hearts of 55mil South Africans and 1.2 billion Africans. You have shown the world that even if you live in a dusty Limpopo village, all you need is a voice and some good friends to inspire the world. pic.twitter.com/Xj2VA0f7DA
— Marthunis J Barnard (@MarthunisB)
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/NdlovuYouthChoir?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="font-size: 12pt;">#NdlovuYouthChoir. You are winners through and through. You should have been in the top 5. Your performance outshined many of the top 5... but what is true, you have a winning attitude. Your exhuberance is infectious. Go make your mark guys. You are definitely the hope of SA
— Elaine Chetty (@ElaineChetty1)