In addition to teaching teamwork, musical skills, and movement to the youth and young adults in the choirs, our association spends considerable time researching and learning about the culture of the various musical pieces that are taught.  As part of this dedication to exploring different cultures, sixty Kokopelli and Òran choristers traveled to Africa for a month-long musical and cultural exchange in the summer of 2004. Though African music had always been an important part of our program, none of us expected to be so utterly transformed by the people and landscapes of Africa.  The tour included visits and performances with choirs in Namibia and South Africa.  Great connections were forged with both the Mascato Coastal Youth Choir based in Swakopmund, Namibia, and the Siyacula Youth Choir from Somerset West in Cape Town, South Africa.

In the arid nation of Namibia, Kokopelli members were enthralled by the Mascato Coastal Youth Choir. The wellspring of creativity from the Mascato choir lies in this unique setting where the desert meets the sea – an environment created by the dual dynamics of the Namib Desert, reputedly the oldest in the world, and the mighty Atlantic Ocean.

The Namibian choir’s energy and vivaciousness is akin to that of Kokopelli – both groups felt the connection immediately. The similarities, however, did not end with a shared exuberance for song. The groups are also remarkably similar in many ways, not the least of which is their passionate approach to music making. The groups were both founded in 1996.  Both are directed and led by a dynamic and visionary founder, and have members in the same age range.

We are grateful for all of our African experiences. We are also very aware that many of the African choristers come from homes or areas with little or no financial stability and which are saturated with crime and violence. We have provided funds for several initiatives that focus on giving back to the African communities who gave us so much. Some of our African Projects have included providing funds for the following:

• Purchased choir uniforms for the Siyacula Youth Choir, Somerset West, South Africa.
• Transportation to rehearsals for a month for the Siyacula Youth Choir.
• Scholarships for a young mother and member of the Mascato Coastal Youth Choir, Namibia to begin her university studies.
• Dental work for members of the Siyacula Choir. Unfortunately the dental care they would have received in Somerset West would have involved the extraction of the bad teeth as opposed to proper dental reconstruction and fillings. This sort of procedure would have been devastating to the choristers’ self esteem, as well as severely hindering their ability to sing.
• Choral workshops for both the Siyacula and Mascato Youth Choirs.
• Print music for Mascato and Siyacula.
• Supporting Siyacula chorister Thulani Makwenda through private school.
• Supporting a chorister exchange program between Kokopelli and the African choirs:
• Thulani Makwenda (Siyacula) – spent 3 months in Edmonton during the spring of 2005, living and performing with Kokopelli choristers
• Alexis Hillyard (Kokopelli) – travelled to Namibia for the summer of 2005, living and performing with Mascatol Coastal Youth Choir.
• Englehardt Unaeb (Mascato) – spent 6 months in Edmonton, teaching and performing with Kokopelli
• Marcelino Ochurub (Mascato) – joined Kokopelli in Edmonton for 3 months early in 2007
• Jennifer Kinghorn (Kokopelli) – has recently returned from Namibia after spending the summer of 2007 working and singing with Mascato
• Linus Shawmbwa (Mascato) - was on exchange in Edmonton for 6 months, from September 2007 until late February 2008
• Sandra Gaweses (Mascato) - joined Kokopelli in Edmonton from late November 2007 until late Feburary 2008
• Scott Leithead (Kokopelli's Artistic Director) - is spending a year in Namibia as guest artistic director with the Mascato Youth Choir and will be returning in late March 2009
• Joel Forth (Kokopelli) - is currently on exchange in Namibia with Mascato and will be returning to Canada near the start of Kokopelli's 2008-9 season