In English, Ana a Chiyembekezo means Children of Hope – a fitting CD title for this talented group of orphans and vulnerable children from Malawi, Africa who love to sing. They sing to forget their troubles. They sing to express their hopes and fears. They sing as an act of praise.
So in the Malawi winter of 2007, we gave them something to aim for – a special concert for their guardians and the surrounding community, recorded live. We started by hiring a tailor to measure each of the children for colorful, matching outfits. As the completed clothing arrived piece by piece, the children grew more and more excited. In the meantime, they learned about discipline and hard work during six weeks of rehearsals – and they were willing students. When the big day arrived it turned out to be one they will never forget. With heads held high, Ana a Chiyembekezo sang to a packed church. It was their first-ever performance, but we’re sure it won’t be their last.
Over the past few years, we’ve been amazed at the power of the arts to both communicate and raise the heads of the poor and marginalized. Story of Love performances in the villages of Madagascar, Malawi and the drug rehab centers of Europe, as well as performance opportunities like Cries of the City in South Africa have demonstrated this time and again. The Ana a Chiyembekezo project is one more example. There is nothing quite like the look on a child’s face when she accomplishes something she never thought possible.
Recorded live in a brick and metal roof structure, Ana a Chiyembekezo captures both the joy and the struggle to survive in their beautiful, but impoverished land. Except for There is a Light, all songs are performed in their native Chichewa language. 100% of the proceeds from Ana a Chiyemekezo will directly aid impoverished children in various nations through our Chifundo’s Basket program. To purchase, click here.