Johannesburg — Multiple award-winning South African gospel group, the Soweto Gospel Choir, won the Best World Music Album Grammy for their album Freedom at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards ceremony, at Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Soweto Gospel Choir was formed to celebrate the unique and inspirational power of African Gospel music
The Best World Music Album is for albums containing at least 51 percent playing time of new vocal or instrumental world music recordings. Other nominees included Nigerian musician Omara "Bombino" Moctar; Malian musician Fatoumata Diawara; and Nigerian musicians, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80.
This was the Soweto Gospel Choir's fifth nomination in this category and they have won the award a total of three times.
The award was received by album producer Diniloxolo Ndlakuse; Shimmy Jiyane; Mary Mulovhedzi; and Mulalo Mulovhedzi -- whose late father David Mulovhedzi co-founded the group with producer/director Beverly Bryer 17 years ago -- on behalf of the group.
"The Grammy Award-winning album “Freedom” was recorded in June 2018 as part of the group`s tribute to the 100 Years of Mandela celebrations. It features a selection of South African struggle songs including their scintillating version of Johnny Clegg`s poignant “Asimbonanga”, the group said in a statement.
"The album was released in the United States where the group have just completed a highly successful three-month long tour. Further tours are planned for 2019 including an Australasian tour scheduled for July through September, and locally, a performance at this year’s Cape Town Jazz Festival in March."
African News Agency (ANA)