The Drakensberg Boys Choir’s rendition of Now We Are Free felt less like a performance and more like a shared national moment.
Johannesburg, South Africa (17 December 2025) – Reconciliation Day carries weight in South Africa and this year it arrived with a moment of music that felt both timely and deeply moving. The Drakensberg Boys Choir’s release of Now We Are Free has struck an emotional chord across the country.
Shared on a day dedicated to unity, reflection and healing, the performance feels intentional in both its timing and its message.
Now We Are Free, originally composed by Hans Zimmer, Lisa Gerrard and Klaus Badelt, is a piece rooted in themes of freedom, sacrifice and peace beyond struggle. It speaks without explanation, allowing emotion to do the work… something South Africans understand deeply. Conducted by Jacques Linde, with an arrangement by Bernard Krüger, the choir’s rendition unfolds with restraint and grace before building into something powerful and expansive. Soloists Jeremias Eksteen and Ethan Palagangwe carry the emotional heart of the piece, supported by percussionists Hlumelo Gwatyu and Mogomotsi Rahlogo. Accompaniment by Carin Louw and Lubabalo Dyasi adds depth, while choreography by Zakhele Nkosi brings a visual expression to the music that feels considered and purposeful.
The performance was recorded at the Ken Mackenzie Auditorium at the Drakensberg Boys Choir School, with audio production handled by Jan Louw and the school’s team. Every element works together to create something that feels bigger than a performance; it feels like a shared moment.
The response online has been immediate and heartfelt. Social media quickly filled with messages from viewers who felt the weight and beauty of the rendition.
“That was so beautiful. Thank you boys for sharing that. You all make us so proud,” one viewer wrote.
Another commented, “Great job 💯 Imagine sitting in the audience as a parent of one of those boys, I would be so proud…. and full of tears.”
Others summed it up more simply, with one word repeated again and again: “Gorgeous!”
The Drakensberg Boys Choir is one of South Africa’s most respected musical institutions. Based in the foothills of the Drakensberg Mountains, the choir is internationally recognised for its musical excellence, versatility and distinctive sound. Its repertoire spans classical masterworks, sacred music, African compositions and contemporary pieces, all delivered with precision and heart. Beyond the music, the choir is built on discipline, brotherhood and a shared sense of purpose. Young singers are shaped into skilled musicians and confident individuals who represent South Africa with pride on global stages.
Now We Are Free reflects the idea that true freedom is not only found in victory, but also in release. In dignity, in peace, and in the strength of the human spirit. Hearing those ideas expressed by young South African voices on Reconciliation Day gives the performance an added layer of meaning.
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