African Children's Choir set for Wednesday show

In spite of what the name may suggest, the African Children’s Choir is much more about education than it is music — from what the choir learns on the tour, to what the audiences learn from them, to the schooling that continues after they’re done singing.

The organization’s Choir 42, which is touring throughout the U.S. while Choir 41 tours the United Kingdom, is set for a 6 p.m. Wednesday performance at Central Baptist Church in Clovis. There is no charge for the show, but a freewill offering will take place during the performance.

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The African Children’s Choir will perform 6 p.m. Wednesday at Central Baptist Church in Clovis.

The choir is part of Music For Life, a parent organization that works in seven African countries to help provide education.

“They really enjoy the performing and the singing,” said Carrie Lyman, a chaperone for Choir 42. “They have great voices, great smiles. They also really enjoy meeting new people. We’ve done some fun things in the states so far.”

The choir will sing a mixture of African songs and popular songs in American churches. Previous versions of the choir have performed with Paul McCartney, Keith Urban, Mariah Carey and Michael W. Smith.

The choir coming to Clovis is made up of children between ages 8 and 11 of various musical abilities, who have been identified by area churches. The musical talents are part of the consideration process , Lyman said, but the primary goal is to find those children in need. For instance, there is no free public education in Uganda.

“While we’re on tour, we’re doing concerts with the kids, and doing schooling,” Lyman said. “They’ll get to go to the African Children’s Choir School in Uganda. They look at people who might not be able to get an education without the choir.”

Lyman, an Ohio native who saw one of the choirs at age 10 and decided after college it was her best way to serve God. She said being with the children has taught her to value things like she takes for granted, like bathroom hand dryers that the choir members never saw before touring.

“I enjoy getting to experience the new things with the kids,” Lyman said. “With the states, everything was so new.“

The group is about halfway into a 10-month tour. When they return, they will attend the school through seventh grade. After that, Music for Life will help provide them opportunities at further grade levels and college.