Victor Mecoamere

Victor Mecoamere

A full house is a certainty at the 2008 Transnet Foundation, SABC and Sowetan Massed Choir Festival at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg on November 9.

Still one of the biggest choral music shows in South Africa, the festival is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Sowetan's unique brand of nation-building or corporate social responsibility.

It is anchored in strong community development partnerships with like-minded companies, institutions and organisations.

Essentially the festival is part of the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation's youth and community development projects and a part of the SABC and Transnet Foundation's corporate social investment and responsibility portfolios.

Guest artist Benjamin Dube is an almost peerless musical genius. His reputation in the local and international gospel arena is equally impeccable.

A practising pastor, Dube's musical shows are more than entertainment, but spiritual-religious revival sessions.

Dube, who became a pastor in the 80s, released his first single, Holy Spirit, in 1986.

After that he produced about 15 chart-topping gospel music albums and hit the world stage in 1999 with I Feel Like Going On. This was his first live album, powered by a historical deal with Harmony Records in New York.

Four young singers who will take part are mezzosoprano Nonhlanhla Yende, bass Timothy Matlala, soprano Pretty Yende and tenor Monwabisi Lindi.