Afropean Choir

Unlike most choirs, the Afropean Choir focuses on the use of both voice and body, learning songs by ear rather than from printed music, and exploring the wonderful, uplifting sounds of polyphony.

“The people of the choir are from very different backgrounds, but because of the singing they are very close,” says Anita Daulne, who founded the choir through Oxford Contemporary Music three years ago. “When you sing in harmony you have stronger feelings for people through voices.

“What I like about polyphony is it’s like having a musical discussion without arguing! That’s what music does, and I wish people would sing more, because it lifts up the soul.”

Born to a Congolese mother and a Belgian father, Anita grew up surrounded by music from both Africa and Europe.

For some years she sang with her sister’s Belgian/Congo band, Zap Mama, and now gives vocal workshops in Afropean music all over the world.

Like Zap Mama, the Afropean Choir blends urban and ethnic influences from the African and European cultures. “It’s a mix, because doing a pure African song is not possible, because it’s a kind of ritual which is very repetitive,” explains Anita. “So I have to rearrange it, and make it accessible for the Western ear, while respecting the essence and the feeling. Sometimes I compose songs as well. I don’t use written music, so when I compose I compose through the oral tradition.”

For those used to singing with a book in their hands, learning everything orally might initially come as a bit of a shock.

“It can be disorientating,” Anita acknowledges. “But when you use the oral tradition you keep the essence, you keep the flavour, you keep the soul of the song.

“I heard some African songs sung by a classical choir, and there was something missing. They had the African words, the African melody, but they way they used the voice, the way they moved, it missed the essence because it was through written music, not from hearing, from transmission. When you transmit it you receive the soul. You can only get that through the oral tradition.”

The idea of using the body while singing might also seem strange to members of a classical choir, but with the Afropean Choir movement is an integral part of the performance.

“It was a challenge for the choir in the beginning, but now they do it automatically,” says Anita.

“Because you feel it — you don’t just use the brain, you go through the whole body. It’s a very different way of doing things, but it makes everybody more confident, more powerful, more strong.”

Anita was inspired to start the Afropean workshops as a ‘taster’, after interest in the choir outstripped the number of available places.

“People come to the show and are interested in this way of singing. This gives them a chance because there is such a big waiting list to join the choir. So I do exactly the same as I do with my choir — same techniques, same style of repertory.”

Although some basic musical skills are useful, Anita doesn’t like to discourage anyone from coming along.

“If you can talk you can sing, if you can walk you can dance,” she believes.

“You don’t need to be an expert — you just need to have a free heart, and just enjoy!”

For more information, visit afropeanchoir.co.uk