Broken Chord moves between concert, dance and performance, retelling of the story of the first African choir which performed in Great Britain and the US, in the late 19th century.

Featuring four soloists and Echo Vocal Ensemble, Gregory Maqoma’s work tells the story of a South African–based chorus whose tour through North America and England in the late 19th century was marred by the realities of racism. The piece lays bare the burden of the white gaze and what it feels like to move beyond its constraints.

Broken Chord charts the journey of a group of singers who travelled by boat in order to collect donations to build a school. Despite the tensions between South Africa and the colonial power Great Britain, the tour became a glorious success. Maqoma offers a rare insight into how Africans were perceived in Victorian London. Using atmospheric sounds and both traditional Xhosa and contemporary styles of dance, Maqoma gives a voice to this remarkable story.

South African choreographer and Soweto-born Gregory Maqoma became interested in dance as a means to escape the political tensions growing in his place of birth. Here he collaborates with Musical Director Thuthuka Sibisi, who himself started his career at the world-renowned Drakensberg Boys Choir School. Together they present a unique work about past and present issues concerning borders, migration and identity.

Echo is an acclaimed vocal ensemble that stemmed from the Genesis Sixteen Young Artist scheme. Led by conductor Sarah Latto, they made their St John’s Smith Square debut in 2017, and have since performed at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, as Ensemble-in-Residence at Ryedale Festival and live on BBC Radio 3.

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Header image © Thomas Muller