11 Apr 2016

Botswana’s second president, Sir Ketumile Masire says music is food for the soul hence the need to encourage collective, excellent quality production of hymns.

Speaking at a United Congregational Church of Southern Africa (UCCSA) inaugural chaplain’s concert dinner over the weekend which was meant to raise funds towards the training of UCCSA choirs conductors to ensure the church hymns were sang in a similar way throughout the church’s branches nationwide, Sir Ketumile said this encouraged music solidarity across all church branches.

The former president, who is also a church elder, emphasised the need for the church to work on refining hymns to minister the gospel through soothing melodies as this could be a powerful tool that could be used to capture lost souls.  He noted that producing, recording and publishing quality hymns would go a long way in preaching the gospel.

He added that as Botswana celebrates 50 years of independence, it should  be remembered that churches played a significant role in building the nation, adding that the UCCSA has contributed to the education sector by building schools such as Moeding College and others. He said the UCCSA, along with other churches, have contributed significantly to the health sector hence the need to appreciate the work of the church which had been going on even before Botswana gained self-rule in 1966.

For his part, the UCCSA Synod Choirs Chaplain, Dumi Mmualefhe said music “speaks to the soul, it communicates that which the painter cannot capture, that which the wordsmith cannot capture,” adding that it was important to nurture talent to capture souls through song.

In an interview, the Synod Choirs committee chairperson, Tebogo Moloi said it was the first chaplains concert which they intend to hold every two years to raise funds for the church.
“We have noticed that various UCCSA regions nationwide sing our hymn book differently and we intend to harmonise this, with the money raised from here we intend to train choir conductors who will be able to transfer their knowledge to the choir and indeed the congregation,” she said.

Furthermore, she said proceeds from the concert would go into publishing and promoting UCCSA hymns.
The concert was graced by performances by UCCSA choirs, local Jazz sensational, Lister Boleseng, Lyon as well as South Africa’s William Sejake. Ends