Submitted photo The African Children’s Choir will perform at the Living World Lutheran Church in Marshall at 7 p.m. Saturday. The African Children’s Choir is a nonprofit humanitarian and relief organization.

MARSHALL– The world renowned African Children’s Choir will be performing its lively African songs and dances at a free concert in Marshall on Saturday as part of the Sounds of Summer celebration.

The concert begin at 7 p.m. at the Living Word Lutheran Church located at 800 Southview Court E. The African Children’s Choir is a nonprofit humanitarian and relief organization dedicated to helping African children.

Kris Bortnem is a Living Word congregation member who is helping coordinate the event, along with the ministry coordinator, Jaci Peterson.

“I first heard the African Children’s Choir three years ago in Sioux Falls, and ever since then I have been trying to get them to come to my church, Living Word,” Bortnem said.

The African Children’s Choir was founded in 1977 by Ray Barnett, an ordained minister from Ireland.

“Ray Barnett was on a humanitarian mission trip. He was deeply moved by the amount of poverty and devastation he saw in Africa,” Bortnem said. “Barnett gave a young African boy a ride back to a village. While journeying back, the boy started to sing. The child’s singing lit up the entire trip.”

“The African Children’s Choir is based out of a parent organization called Music For Life,” Lydia Sherwood said. She is the interview and promotion facilitator for The African Children’s Choir Tour.

“Music For Life works in seven different African countries, such as Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda, Sudan, Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa,” she said.

“This organization has educated and impacted thousands of people through its African relief programs The vision of Barnett was to have the kids that are enrolled in African schools (that Music For Life supports) to go on tour in order to bring the beautiful music he had heard to other countries, such as Europe and North America,” Bortnem said.

Bortnem said that throughout the last 30 years of choir tours, the organization has opened schools, clinics, and relief centers in seven African countries, and has helped over 52,000 children receive formal education.

The children in this choir love touring in America. Choir tour director Kiera Carnie told about how the kids also love American food.

“They said that if they could bring anything back from America to Africa, they would bring pizza,” she said.

“We stay with host families while we are on tour, and the kids love the hot showers, too. They can’t get used to the idea of hot water pouring over them,” Carnie said.

Carnie was a former dance and music instructor in England, and this is her first time in America as well.

“This choir is dangerous, let me warn you. After listening to them, I was so moved that I decided it was a good idea to pack myself up and volunteer to go to America with them,” Carnie said.

“The Children’s Choir has had the privilege to perform before presidents and with artists such as Paul McCartney, Keith Urban and Mariah Carey” Sherwood said.

The group recently performed for Elizabeth II, the Queen of England.

“The African Children’s Choir has had a Grammy nomination in the past,” Bortnem said. “They’ve performed at impressive venues, such as Buckingham Palace and the Pentagon.”

The group shares traditional African songs and spirituals through their instruments and singing. The African Children’s Choir will also be performing a few classic pieces, such as “This Little Light of Mine.”

“They trained for six months before going on tour. These kids are so very talented at playing the drums, singing and dancing. The kids really love what they are doing,” Carnie said.

“They have come to share with us the beauty, dignity and potential of each African child,” Bortnem said.

For any further questions relating to the event, contact the venue at 507-337-9673.