The Stellenbosch University Choir have taken Elton John’s “The Circle of Life” and woven it into a stunning performance, weaving isiZulu into the iconic lyrics for a truly inspiring, proudly South African rendition!
Stellenbosch, South Africa (26 November 2024) – Using the percussion of their voices, aided by a few instruments, the Stellenbosch University Choir have brought to life the famous Elton John song “The Circle of Life” in a way that sent waves of goosebumps through the captivated audience.
The Circle of Life, created for the iconic Lion King, is a song for nature, filled with the sounds of the plains of Africa – the choir beautifully capture this in their rendition, and we are going to boldly say this is our favourite version of this song, ever!
Arranged and conducted by André van der Merwe, he guides the choir through a rendition that honours African heritage, weaving isiZulu verses through the iconic lyrics and giving it a proudly South African flare.
“I arranged the piece to revisit the African roots of this iconic song. I added Zulu lyrics to parts that in the original are played by orchestra to give the song a fresh spin. The wish is to bring joy to our supporters as we all are preparing to enter the festive season.” – André van der Merwe
The crowd adores the performance, giving it a well-deserved standing ovation, and it is evident on the faces of the choir members that they are proud of this performance and rightfully so! We even spied a few singers moved to tears (I, too, had to grab a tissue!).
Watch the stunning performance below:
About the choir:
The Stellenbosch University Choir was founded in 1936 under the baton of William Morris. After him, various conductors established the ensemble as an influential South African choir.
The choir, an ensemble of approximately 80 – 100 voices, has won international acclaim through performances, concert tours, and participation in prestigious festivals and competitions.
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And only a few of the students in the group actually study music!
The University Choir is one of the most celebrated choirs in South Africa, and it has received various awards from around the world.
You can see more of their performances here.
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