The founder of South Africa’s Ndlovu Youth Choir, which is hoping to win America’s Got Talent, has told the BBC that the young singers are “the ambassadors of a united Africa”.
Hugo Tempelman said the choir stood for South Africa’s “hope, youth and vibrancy” in the wake of tension over recent xenophobic attacks, which have tarnished the reputation of the country.
South Africans are hoping that the choir wins the America’s Got Talent crown after their performance overnight in the TV talent show final – voting is under way and winner will be known on Thursday.
Mr Tempelman said the choir was born out of an non-governmental organisation he had set up 25 years ago to help orphans and vulnerable children exposed to drug abuse and rape in South Africa’s Limpopo province.
“Singing is their way of saying, ‘I want to get out of this,’” Mr Tempelman told the BBC’s Newsday programme.
“Africa sings in every moment… whether it’s in marriage, birth or death – Africa sings,’’ he said.
If the choir won America’s Got Talent, it would be proof that “excellence can come out of deep poverty”, he added.
