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The Soweto Melodic Voices performed “The Rain Queen” for the Middle and Upper Schools, as well as the Lower School in the Forever Young Gymnasium.
After the introductory video and a song, the core of the performance is based on the legend of the Rain Queen.
The Modjadji or Rain Queen is the hereditary Queen of Balobedu, a people of the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The succession to the position of Rain Queen is matrilineal, meaning the Queen’s eldest daughter is the heir and that males are not entitled to inherit the throne at all.
The Rain Queen is believed to have special powers, including the ability to control clouds and rainfall.
The show demonstrates and celebrates an outstanding queen with amazing powers to generate rain. People run to the queen and complain about the devastating drought and how the destructive locusts spoil their wheat.
With the audience’s help, the villagers also perform a welcome dance. The queen and her retinue sing and pray deeply for rain. Once the rains arrive, the villagers give thanks and celebrate by performing dances from several South African tribes.
The spirit of this tale, illustrating leadership is not just about dictatorship but about extending a helping hand and providing for everyone in the village, is communicated to the audiences.
Today, Queen Modjadji is still regarded as the Mother of the Nation.
The program was organized through Creative Connections, an international education organization. Each year, Creative Connections brings talented young performers from one of its partner countries to the United States to perform for schools and art centers in Connecticut and New York.
To learn more about Creative Connections and Soweto Melodic Voices, click here
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