Raising a Joyful Sound

A message of hope and an embodiment of joy are what the African Children’s Choir has used to entertain audiences worldwide since its formation more than four decades ago.

It’s a musical ministry that will soon be presented locally at the Naples Seventh-day Adventist Church. The assemblage of children from Uganda, ages eight to 10, is set to perform a free concert at the Davis Boulevard house of worship on March 27.

The program is a blend of traditional hymns and African cultural sounds, with a sharing of stories to reflect God’s faithfulness through joyful worship.

“It's got the African beat, we have African songs, we have African dance, we've got drums in the concert, and we've also got some of the famous hymns like ‘Amazing Grace,’ ‘Just As I Am,’ ‘How Great Thou Art,’ and ‘In Christ Alone,’” said Daniel Tamale, who’s leading the 17-person choir’s 2026 tour. “I’m not sure how to describe it, but it's going to be a good time.”

The choir is part of the nonprofit Christian organization Music for Life International, which provides impoverished African children with the education, discipleship, and leadership skills to overcome challenging life circumstances so they can be agents of positive, lasting change for their families, communities, and countries.

Daniel Tamale, 27, who’s leading the 17-person choir’s 2026 tour, is also a former member of the group. A fellow native of Uganda, he said the children are facing hardships similar to those he experienced when he joined at age nine.

“Things like access to education, medical care, water resources,” he said. “We still have many, many, many homes that do not have piped water. So they’re walking long miles to get water and they are mostly coming from humble backgrounds. And by humble, I mean, they really need the support they receive. They need the encouragement to know that they don't have to stay and live in this situation. There is a hope for you. And that's where the choir and Music for Life enter the picture. By them coming on the road, they get the exposure, they get the first-hand encouragement to know that they are ambassadors and they can make home a better place.”

While the choir’s current membership consists entirely of children from Uganda, Music for Life International also operates programs in Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa.

The African Children’s Choir performs primarily in the UK, Canada, and the U.S. The choir has entertained in Australia, Japan, Spain, and other European nations, said Tamale.

The current nine-month-long North American tour began in September. Aside from the Naples stop, the choir’s Florida schedule also includes performances in Jacksonville, Sarasota, Tampa, Land O’Lakes, Waldo, Ocoee, Sanford, Lakeland, and Groveland during March and early April.

While in Collier County, the children will be hosted by local families, with whom they’ll be able to share and learn about new customs, food, and culture.

Tamale said that while audiences may see joy expressed on the choir members’ faces, performances are also augmented by videos depicting what life is like in the areas where the children come from, which play in the background.

“Sometimes it's hard for people to understand how the children are so happy and so into what they do vis-a-vis what's being shown on the screen,” he explained. “What they see in the videos should not cause them to define the children, but rather what they see come out of the children should be the definition. So people should come ready to experience a performance full of joy.”

The Friday evening performance will begin at 7:00 PM. Tickets are not required, but donations are appreciated. The funds enable the choir to continue its work. The Naples Seventh-day Adventist Church is located at 5050 Davis Boulevard. The church can be contacted at 239-213-3351. For more information about the African Children’s Choir, please visit africanchildrenschoir.com.