Watoto, a holistic care program, initiated to serve the dire needs of Africa and her people, is thrilled to present a brand new choir tour entitled Beautiful Africa: A New Generation.

The production will be presented in Turner Auditorium on the Chowan University campus at 7:00 pm on February 19th. The tour began in Miami, FL and will tour for three months visiting several cities throughout the U.S., and concluding the tour in Atlanta, GA. The group is being hosted in this region by Ahoskie United Methodist and Murfreesboro United Methodist. Also, Chowan University’s Campus Ministry and Church and Community Relations are helping to sponsor the event.

With vibrant, original African music; dance routines; life-transforming stories, the tour is indicative of the new generation of leaders emerging out of Watoto.

“Through the choir’s Concert of Hope, we share a message of transformation by telling the story of Africa’s rescued orphans and women. We hope to reach out to audiences with the message of Christ’s healing power,” says Gary Skinner, Watoto Founder.

With its genuine appeal, accompanied by music and dance – an energetic fusion of contemporary gospel and traditional African rhythm – the globally acclaimed Watoto Children’s Choir has traveled internationally since 1994 as ambassadors for the millions of children in Africa, orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS, war and poverty.

Each of the children in the choir has suffered the loss of one or both parents. They live in Watoto Children’s Villages where they receive the care and nurture they need to grow up as productive citizens of their country.

Since its inception, 65 choirs have traveled globally, providing the children with a bigger worldview, an unusual opportunity they would otherwise never get. The choirs have been to Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan and USA, among others. Their audiences have included royalty, presidents, ministers and the common people alike, capturing many hearts wherever they go.

To preview a performance of the choir visit: www.watoto.com/the-choir. 

About Watoto:

Watoto is a holistic care solution providing for the physical, emotional, medical, spiritual and academic needs of children in Africa. Watoto was initiated as a response to the overwhelming number of orphaned children and vulnerable women in Africa. It is positioned to rescue an individual, raise each one as a leader in their chosen sphere of life so that they in turn will rebuild their nation.

About the Watoto Children’s Choir:

Accompanied by a team of adults, the choir presents Watoto’s vision and mission through their stories, music and dance. Watoto choirs act as ambassadors to raise awareness about the plight of the orphaned and vulnerable children of Africa.

About Chowan University:

As one of the fastest growing universities in North Carolina for the past ten years, Chowan University, a Christian liberal arts university founded in 1848, enrolls nearly 1,500 students each year and is located in the Historic Inner Banks community of Murfreesboro in Northeastern North Carolina. The university is in close proximity to the Outer Banks and Hampton Roads Virginia. Chowan’s park-like campus features 390 acres including Lake Vann, the beloved “Squirrel Park” and the original McDowell Columns Building, erected in 1851 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Accredited with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Chowan offers over 80 undergraduate academic programs among The School of Arts and Sciences, The School of Education and The School of Business, and offers Masters Degrees through the School of Graduate Studies. Several departments are also individually accredited, such as Teacher Education Program’s accreditation by NCDPI and NCATE, as well as the Music program’s institutional accreditation by NASM. Chowan offers 16 varsity sports, as well as co-ed cheerleading, with 12 programs in the CIAA conference and all with dual-affiliation in the NCAA D-II and NCCAA.