DIVINE Appointment, a newly established gospel group, based in Kwanomzamo, Humansdorp, which was formed to help young people stay away from negative elements in their community and instead showcase their talents, is now hoping to record and release their first gospel album.
During the nationwide lockdown last year, while singing together and sharing stories with her brother, Sihle Klassen, about the gospel songs they sang at various concerts when they were kids, Nokuthula Klassen, who is one of 10 group members from the newly established Divine Appointment gospel group, said they were reminded about how gospel music helped them to avoid crime and stay away from the local taverns.
While growing up, both Nokuthula and her brother used to sing for the Christian Army Gospel Singers, founded by Bishop Thembinkosi Dayimani and, in January this year, they felt it was time to establish their own gospel group to give back to the community and to provide the young people in their area with similar positive experiences that they had within the gospel industry.
“It was important for us to establish this gospel group during these times because so much talent is wasted in our area.
“The youth in our area are not afforded any opportunities to showcase their talents and they end up at the wrong places and some even resort to drug and alcohol abuse,” said Nokuthula.
“Starting our own gospel group is a way of keeping the youth busy and bring them closer to God, at the same time.”
Nokuthula said the current members of Divine Appointment, namely Sihle Klassen, Noziphiwo Scholtz, Busisiwe Velebhay, Sanele Hewu, Yolanda Shweni, Thabiso Ngcwecwe, Anele Mdingi, Khaya Smith and Chuma Prince, were from different churches as they were not a church-based gospel group, but instead were dedicated to the community.
They therefore encouraged anyone who was interested to join their group.
“Our vision is to help each member from our group record their own solo album by grooming them individually to stand on their own in the gospel music industry,” said Nokuthula.
While Nokuthula and her brother, Sihle, formed part of the Christian Army Gospel Singers, the eight other members in the Divine Appointment previously sang under the leadership of Gugulethu Mabanda, who was a radio presenter on Kouga FM.
Nokuthula said they planned to officially launch their gospel group next month, on a date and at a venue which were yet to be confirmed.
Thereafter, with help from sponsors, they will begin recording their first album, which they hope to release soon.
“We have already started composing and arranging our own songs. Since many of our group members are young and unemployed, we will need to raise enough funds before we can start recording our first album,” said Nokuthula.
She said while raising funds for their first album, they will continue showcasing their talents throughout Humansdorp.
