• Libala Church Choir members pray after donating baby blankets at Liteta Hospital Maternity Ward, some two years ago.

By BRIAN HATYOKA –

LIBALA Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church, located at the Nationalist/Chilimbulu road junction in Lusaka, is one of the oldest Adventist Churches in the country.
It was established in 1967 and dedicated to God on December 5, 1976, by a Pastor M L Mills who served as president of Trans–Africa Division, or East Africa Division as it was known as then.
In 1976, Libala SDA Church was the third SDA Church in Lusaka while the other two churches were Matero SDA and Lusaka Central SDA.
In the 60s, when Libala Church was established, Adventist church members in Lusaka had no proper places of meeting for their services.
For Libala SDA Church, members used to worship at Waddington Centre which is located at the Nationalist/ Burma junction in Lusaka in the 60s and 70s.
Church members later moved to the Anglican Church around 1974 where they rented the building for worshiping purposes on Saturday.
Libala Church Choir, which currently has more than 80 members from an initial membership of about 18, was formed in 1967, the same year when the church was established at Waddington Centre.
Recently, the Libala Church Choir, which was popularly known as “The Mighty Church Choir,” hosted a musical celebration to mark its 50th Jubilee anniversary under the theme ‘Celebrating 50 Years of God’s Grace’.
The six-day celebrations where held from November 26 to December 2, 2017
The jubilee celebrations, which attracted both old and current choir members since 1967, featured a number of pastors namely Moses Ziela, John Namwako, Keith Chuumpu as well as the host church pastor Wibbofree Mukabila.
Different Adventist singing groups, namely Aggellain Singers, Shiloh Quartet, Davies Mulaya and Heritage Brothers Quartet, Wings of Faith, Youth Choir, Sabbath School Choir, Joy singers, Ambassadors Choir, Voice of Hope and Agape Singers, among others, also featured during the anniversary celebrations.
Some of the songs the Church Choir sung at the anniversary were Welcome Home, Mukeminina Kwi, Kuli Klistu, No One Understands, Usam’kane, Lintu Namona, Look for Me and Kuli Munzi.
Tukakumana, Sepo Yende, Heaven, Ndemweba Yesu, Umfwe Landwe, Ndibisale Mwanu, Angels, Lesa Wandi, Atulibambe and Jesu Mulati were the other songs that took listeners down memory lane.
Agnes Chirwa, who is currently the surviving oldest Libala Church Choir member, says it is truly God’s grace which has sustained the choir over the last 50 years.
Ms Chirwa, who is now aged 75, says the choir has had an unbroken record of preaching God’s word through music.
She says it is God’s grace that even an old woman like her is still singing and mingling with younger singers.
“Some people left the group but we are still holding on. We are a united choir and we respect each other.
“I am happy that the young people I sing with also respect me,” says Ms Chirwa.
Ms Chirwa recalls that the choir began in 1967 as a Sabbath School Choir at Waddington Centre.
She says there was a quartet which joined the choir around 1967 and the choir director then was a Brother Katyoka who has since relocated to Malawi.
“We used to meet for rehearsals in the evening at our house in Libala Stage Four B.
Most of those members who were there have died.
“Early choir directors included a Mr Mukakangwa, Mutale Kangwa, Sole Zemba, a Mr Michelo (late) and many others afterwards while the quartet, which joined the choir in 1967, had members namely Gideon Halwiindi, Bright Halwiindi, Enoch Halwiindi and Edward Mbwisa,” she said.
In terms of good memories she has for the choir over the last 50 years, Ms Chirwa says she enjoyed moments when the choir travelled outside Zambia to preach and minister through music.
“I remember we went to Harare in Zimbabwe, Botswana and other countries. When we crossed Victoria Falls Bridge in Livingstone on our way to Harare, we were late and so we spent a night at the no man’s land and we continued our journey the following day.
“Other good moments are that we were also invited to sing at State House by Zambia’s First Republican President Kenneth Kaunda and we provided music,” she says.
She said the choir even visited Dr Kaunda’s home after the former President lost his wife Betty and took time comforting him through music and the word of God.
Ms Chirwa says other good memories were when the choir sung to old veteran members of UNIP at the Kamanga’s Farm many years ago.
On sentiments from some sections of people that choirs should be for young people and not for old people, Ms Chirwa says such ideas are incorrect.
“Those who say music is for young people don’t know what they are talking about. Music moves my vein and I enjoy it at my age.
“Even when I am working in my house, I sing and some songs make me cry or rejoice or have hope over the troubled world. Music is medicine and it is for all people, whether young and old,” she says.
Ms Chirwa says she still looked strong and young regardless of her age.
Ms Chirwa advised the choir to remain united and committed if it is to celebrate the 100 years of existence in the next 50 years.
She is of the view that some singers only get committed when they are travelling, which is not correct.
“Choir members should always be there and train their voices. When you don’t rehearse, the voice is not performing well. This is a spiritual journey where we preach through music,” she says, explaining that people, including the same singers, are touched through music.
She says singer should be committed, united and be one in the spirit of God.
She says there should be no backbiting, gossiping and quarrelling because choir members sing not to their own pleasure but to God and his son Jesus Christ.
On bad experiences over the last 50 years, Ms Chirwa says she remembered a fatal road accident which involved two choir members (brothers from the Hamakowa Family) as well as their daughter and nephew.
The Hamakowa Family was on their way to Lusaka after they visited their families in Southern Province.
“When the four bodies were brought to Libala Church, it was a sad day and it is still sad today when I remember about it.
“The two Hamakowa brothers left their wives at a tender age and it really touches me when I think about it. Those are sad moments I will not forget. Some choir members also died from natural death,” Ms Chirwa said.
The accident involving the Hamakowa Family took place some 16 years ago.
Phillip Kampamba Phiri, who is 22 years old and the youngest choir member, describes his experience in the singing group as having been very exciting.
Mr Phiri, who joined the choir two years ago, says he has learnt many things from elderly people than when he was with his fellow youths.
“I have been with the choir for two years. Most people who sing in the choir started singing way back before I was born but I can share the same stage with them,” he says.
He says it has been a great and blessed journey he has taken with the choir.
He has since encouraged young people to consider joining the choir so that they can tap wisdom from elderly people like Ms Chirwa.
Mr Phiri says he had felt encouraged to join the choir.
“In order to survive in this era, we need the wisdom of old people and the energy of young people,” he says.
He advices the young people that they should mingle with old people so that they get necessary wisdom to guide them in their future.
Felix Muyendekwa, who is current choir chairperson, says he was happy to celebrate 50 years, to evaluate the choir’s performance and focus on the future.
Mr Muyendekwa says he has seen many singing groups which get abandoned but Libala Church Choir has stood firm since 1967.
“When we look back and see God’s grace the way he has brought us for 50 years, it is indeed by faith,” he says.
He says the group feels strengthened in faith and choir members look forward to God that he will continue guiding the group.
He says celebrating the 50th anniversary was an achievement to all the group members and they believe they should take time to celebrate and reflect.
In terms of challenges, Mr Muyendekwa says it was difficult to manage a big choir which had different problems and expectations.
He says some members have had had funerals while others go to school which in turn affects the group.
“Some were discouraged along the way and left the group but this 50th Golden Anniversary has reunited us and reminded us of the great work to evangelise through music,” he says.
He urged choir members to remain strong and focused amidst the challenges they were facing.
“We are living in the last days on earth and so we are supposed to double our efforts of ministering through music.
“So far, we have done three audio albums and we are planning next year to have a video album and do more recording,” he said.
Mr Muyendekwa urged Zambians, who have enjoyed the music of the church choir over the last 50 years, to join the group in celebrating the achievement.
Choir Director Willy Kalumba says a lot of members were committed in preaching the gospel through music.
Mr Kalumba, who started singing in the choir in 1989, says the singing group helped to establish other singers in Lusaka.
“The choir has a lot of people who help vulnerable people, including choir members. The choir is a spiritual singing group and we have put it in God’s hands,” he says.
He describes music as something that takes people closer to God and away from engaging in worldly things.
He says the unique part of Libala Church Choir is that members learn music through musical notes first after which they start singing the words.
Trace Lisulo, the choir’s vice chairperson, says she has wonderful memories of the group.
Ms Lisulo joined the choir 27 years ago and coincidentally, she was born 50 years ago when the choir was formed.
“We travelled around the country and beyond the borders as a group. We have grown together in the choir,” she says.
She recalls the choir’s trips to Mongu (Western province) and Botswana to evangelise and the experiences on the way were amazing.
She says one could see bond and unity as the group travelled.
She describes the group as being still a “mighty” choir though it was not as strong as used to be many years ago.
“A number of members left and we have young people joining us. We have three generations of musicians and I would still call it the Might, Libala Church Choir.
“I hope to be part of the 100 years celebrations,” she says.
Ms Lisulo says she has worshipped in Libala Church longer than the 27 years when she joined the choir and had seen singing groups come and go but the Libala Church Choir has remained intact.
Ms Lisulo says trusting in God and prayers were some of the key ingredients which have sustained the choir for many years.
Beatrice Chilomo, who joined the choir 30 years ago when she was 15 years old, says her musical journey in the choir had been exciting.
“I grew up in Libala SDA church as young girl coming from school. If I was not going for camping, I was singing in Libala Church Choir. It has been a good experience,” she
said.
Ms Chilomo says she was currently stronger in the Lord because of her membership in
the choir.
Chiluba Kaite, who joined church choir in 1994 and was choir director in 2000, says the experience he got from the group was wonderful.
Mr Kaite says music is an important tool which can bring many to Jesus Christ just like the world is using music to disseminate information they want to pass on whether it is good or bad.
Mr Kaite urged singers to be humble and avoid being proud as pride started from the devil.
“Singers must be humble people and reflect the character of Jesus who died for sinners,” Mr Kaite says.
Indeed, God has led Libala Church Choir by his grace over the last 50 years and it is only hoped that he will continue leading them for the next 50 years when they celebrate their 100th anniversary in the year 2067.
Music is truly one of God’s great gifts to man and it is one of the most important elements in a spiritual programme.
It is an avenue of communication with God, and is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual truth.