Coral Afrikaníssimo: African dialects, traditional instruments, and the goal of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ.
African soundscapes in Portugal
Feel the Rhythm! is what the Afrikaníssimo choir from Lisbon in Portugal embodies with heart and soul. The group made its concert debut in December last year in the New Apostolic Church in Sassoeiros. As the choir filed into the church in their colourful robes, they sang a processional piece after which Apostle Dimitrios Diniz opened the concert with a speech. The choir’s repertoire includes a wide selection of songs in various African languages. But who is behind this choir and how did this extraordinary music project come about?
Proclaiming the gospel with 45 voices
Janicio Lukoki from Angola launched the project with the aim of praising the gospel of Jesus Christ through African rhythms and melodies. Strengthening the bond between Christians is another important objective of the choir. It consists of members from the New Apostolic Church and other denominations.
The choir has 45 singers and a ten-member leadership team. Most of the members have African roots and come from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Cape Verde. The majority live in Portugal, but some also live in Germany, Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
Diligence, commitment, and a future vision
Owing to the large distances between the choir members, some of the rehearsals in preparation for the concert took place online. For the on-site rehearsals, the choir members paid their own expenses and stayed overnight locally.
After the concert it was clear: “The New Apostolic Church in Portugal has agreed to support the growth of this music project in the future,” it says on the official website of the Regional Church.
Photo and video: INA Portugal