SA’s acclaimed gospel ensemble Joyous Celebration will be recording their eagerly awaited Joyous 21 at the church of Bishop TD Jakes.
|||Johannesburg - Popular African-American senior pastor, author and film-maker Bishop TD Jakes says South Africa’s acclaimed gospel ensemble Joyous Celebration will be recording their eagerly awaited Joyous 21 at his church - The Potter’s House - in Dallas, Texas, in December.
The timing of the announcement - made last weekend - took music maestro and Joyous Celebration co-founder Lindelani Mkhize by surprise.
An ecstatic Lindelani said: “When we talk gospel and Christianity, TD Jakes is the authority in that space. He was not supposed to announce that on Sunday, but he was so excited and he loves the project so much that out of the blue he just decided he is going to make the announcement.
“I was not ready, because we had planned that we would make the announcement only when I get back home, but he was just so into it that he wanted to do it. It tells you that we really are on to something.
“We take it as (meaning) 21 was the right time to go out and start spreading our wings, and there is no other best way than to use our relationships out there. What was great was that TD Jakes felt it was time.”
The KwaZulu-Natal trio who founded Joyous Celebration in Durban - Lindelani and pastors Mthunzi Namba and Jabu Hlongwane - had a mix of expertise and experience in the music industry.
“Our original idea was sort of conceived there... in Durban. I’m from uMlazi, Mthunzi is from KwaMashu and Pastor Hlongwane is from Richards Bay.
“We would meet at church rallies and conventions around townships (and) that’s how we got to know each other.”
More than 20 years later, Joyous Celebration have 65 members and are still going strong, releasing an album every year at Easter and following this with a tour of the country.
Their consistency and popularity have seen them grow into one of the biggest groups in the country, while producing gospel artists for whom fans have soft spots in their hearts and wallets.
“I can talk of singers like Ntokozo Mbambo, Mahalia Buchanan, Swazi (Dlamini). Even one of the best jazz artists in the country, Ernie Smith, comes from Joyous Celebration. Brian Temba, Khaya Mthethwa - before Khaya won Idols, he was in Joyous.
“The list is very long. Now the good thing is we don’t train them only to be artists and singing on stage.”
Lindelani said the deal with Jakes did not happen overnight.
He has had a relationship of eight years with Jakes. It was cemented when he assisted with the Potter’s House Church festival, MegaFest, when it came to South Africa.
“When we recorded Joyous 20, I knew 21 would be recorded in Dallas, Texas, because meetings were taking place. But I was focusing on 20, so there was no need to talk about that.”
Joyous Celebration are loved by the masses because many of their songs are in different languages, capturing the diversity of South Africa and the continent.
Lindelani said they would keep their signature sound. “Let me say this, Joyous are an African group - we are not a traditional group, but we are an African group and over the years we have been showing our Africanness.
“Even when we do an English song we do it in our own way that we think is the African way.
“To us, hymns are important. We will make sure that we stick to everything that has made Joyous what it is today.
“I think the (Potter’s House Church) opportunity came because of the kind of music that we are doing, so we can’t now change the music and do American music, trying to be something that we are not.”
The Dallas visit will allow the group not only to record the Joyous 21 album and DVD but also to collaborate with the Potter’s House Mass Choir.
After the recording, Joyous Celebration will tour the US East Coast, visiting New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Philadelphia, and other cities, Lindelani says.
Joyous Celebration fans will have the opportunity to be part of this historic event. Travel packages will be available for those who want to be part of the show in Dallas.
The Sunday Independent