The Kafakumba Singers

THE KAFAKUMBA SINGERS is the name of a gospel choir based at Kafakumba Training Centre in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. The choir includes around 20 young people between the ages of 12 and 20 from the local Kafakumba, Fisenge and Baluba communities.

The choir was established by Bill and Cassie Bauson in 2012, and is now directed by Matthew Raymond, a director at Limapela Development. Their primary objective is to lead the music for services of worship at Kafakumba Life Community Church. The choir also performs elsewhere by invitation. In 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019 the singers were guest performers at Chengelo School near Mkushi, and in 2015 and 2017 they featured on national television and radio programmes for Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).

The singers rehearse twice a week and receive training in vocal production and music literacy. The group provides a safe haven for the young singers, most of whom live in poor communities and have few such musical opportunities in their lives. They are encouraged to embrace Christian values and discipleship, and this ethos is supported by appropriate recreational activities at Kafakumba.