Our final day here was another busy one as we prepared for the open rehearsal later in the day. The previous evening we had been asked by Reverend Josh if we could come along to a talent contest his church had organised to promote Brass for Africa
and to tell the audience what we were trying to achieve. We assumed this would be a low key event but there were a good 500 people in the church listening to the 5 contestants perform their 3 songs with a pane; of 3, including Rev Josh, who bears an uncanny resemblance to Randy Jackson.
The singers were of a very high quality and then Jim outlined what Brass for Africa were trying to achieve before the girls performed a tune, They all did very well and seemed to enjoy the buzz of performing to an audience.
The following day after a morning rehearsal myself and Jim, along with 4 of the girls went to Rev Josh's radio station to give an interview about Brass for Africa. The girls performed their tune again and spoke very confidently about how they have enjoyed learning a brass instrument and what they could gain out of this.
We had another rehearsal before our open rehearsal outside the orphanage and the children excelled themselves.
This has been a steep learning curve for the children and it has been difficult for them them to take in so much. This morning we didn't have all the children there, not because they were sleeping in or bunking off. Some were cooking for the orphanage, some cleaning, some collecting water. This life is so difficult for them and yet they take it with such good grace and humour.
Yet again my trip to Africa has been difficult, heartbreaking, but most of all inspiring.