环球英语 — 35： Soweto Choir

　　Voice 1
Hello. I’m Elizabeth Lickiss.
Voice 2
And I’m Christy VanArragon. Welcome to Spotlight². This programme uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Hundreds of people wait in the hot South African sun. They sing as they wait. Every minute is important. The minutes the singers spend preparing now could make all the difference. These people are auditioning³. They are waiting to sing for a group of experts. If the experts like their singing voice they may offer them a job. The job will be to sing with the Soweto Gospel Choir⁴.
Voice 2
The Soweto Gospel Choir has been travelling the world for the last three years. They perform gospel music in a traditional African way. Their songs tell people about God’s love. The choir members sing together beautifully. They use many traditional African instruments. The choir demonstrates⁵ the rich culture and musical gifts of the African people. Many people across the world have enjoyed their shows. Sarah from England wrote about her experience,
Voice 3
‘I sat in a darkened theatre. Then out of the darkness came this beautiful music. The lights started to shine. They filled the place where the choir stood. The twenty-five [25] choir members were dressed in traditional African clothes. The colours were wonderful. Then the music started to get faster. The choir danced and sang. They described the words of the music through their movements. They brought the words to life. It was clear that they believed in what they were singing. It was a very powerful⁶ show’.
Voice 1
The choir director⁷ is Lucas Deon Bok. Lucas started playing Gospel music at the age of seven, in his local church. Many members of the choir started to learn music in this way. All members of the choir have a Christian⁸ faith. Lucas says that his faith is important to him and the music he sings. He says,
Voice 4
‘When I first started singing Gospel music I enjoyed the sound. I enjoyed the company of other musicans. It was fun. But when I became a friend and follower⁹ of Jesus Christ¹ it changed my way of singing. Now when I say God loves me I know it is true. When I sing that God has helped me through difficult times - I mean it. Singing words that I believe in my heart gives me the greatest joy. I think this is why the music of the choir speaks to so many people ’.
Voice 2
The choir members all have a Christian faith in common. But they do not all come from the same sorts of homes. Some of them have had a good education. They have have come from wealthy families. Some choir members come from poor homes. Lucas says,
Voice 3
‘One girl in our choir comes from a temporary settlement back home. Her family does not have much money. Her future did not look good. But now she has the choir. She is able to travel. And she is able to help her family back in South Africa. Now everyone in her family leads a better life. The choir has been a gift to her’.
Voice 1
Lucas and the other choir members feel lucky to have a chance to sing all over the world. But they have never forgotten South Africa. The travelling means¹⁰ that the choir spend very little time at home. But when they do go home they sing in local theatres and public buildings. They had the honour to perform for former South African President, Nelson Mandela. The choir support Mr Mandela’s Aids Foundation¹¹ - 46664. It is their way of giving something back to their Soweto community.
Voice 2
HIV/AIDS is a major problem in South Africa. HIV/AIDS has affected¹² whole villages. Many parents have died. Their children have no one to care for them. In some parts of South Africa thirty-six percent [36%] of the population is infected. It is a terrible situation. Everyone in South Africa knows someone who has been affected by the virus¹³.
Voice 1
Lucas believes that the choir is in a very special position to help. The people of South Africa respect the choir. It is famous. They come to hear them sing. But at every show the choir also helps to educate people. They talk about HIV/AIDS. They tell people how to avoid catching¹⁴ the HIV virus. They explain the facts. They tell people the best way of avoiding catching HIV. It is for two uninfected people to remain faithful¹⁵ to each other. The church teaches that sex should only happen in marriage. If that happens then there is no risk of ever catching HIV through sex. They also explain that having unprotected sex can cause one person to pass the virus on to another. Using a rubber protective¹⁶ device¹⁷, a condom, during sex greatly reduces that risk.
Voice 2
Many communities reject people infected with the HIV virus. They are left to suffer alone. But the choir wants to encourage people to support those who have HIV/AIDS. In this way they hope to help in the battle against the disease¹⁸. They hope to make life better for people with HIV/AIDS.
Voice 1
Nkosi’s Haven¹⁹ is an aid group that helps children with HIV/AIDS. It is a group that is especially important to the choir. Gail Johnson set up the group in memory of her son Nkosi. Nkosi was a young boy who was infected with the HIV virus. As a young child Nkosi gave a speech to the International AIDS Conference²⁰. His words moved many people to tears. At the AIDS conference he told the world:
Voice 4
‘Care for us and accept us. You cannot get AIDS from kissing and touching²¹. We are all human beings. We are all the same.’
Voice 2
Nkosi died in the summer of the year two thousand and one. But his example showed many people that they do not have to be afraid of children with HIV/AIDS. Nkosi stopped many people from rejecting such children. The Soweto Gospel Choir members are happy to help Nkosi’s Haven. They give some of the money they earn to buy medicines for the children.. They help to pay for children’s education. They support the families that care for those who are sick. The choir have even started their own aid group to help in the battle against HIV/AIDS. It is called Vukani. Many choir members belong to the Zulu tribe²². Vukani is a Zulu word. It means wake up, arise. Lucas wants the people of the world to see what is happening in South Africa. He hopes that their work will cause the international community to wake up, to vukani only then can real change come.
 

1 Christ   

n.基督，救世主，耶稣

参考例句：

• I regarded him as the Christ.我把他当作救世主。
• Christ preached that we should love each other.基督在布道中说人们应该互爱。

2 spotlight   

n.公众注意的中心，聚光灯，探照灯，视听，注意，醒目

参考例句：

• This week the spotlight is on the world of fashion.本周引人瞩目的是时装界。
• The spotlight followed her round the stage.聚光灯的光圈随着她在舞台上转。

3 auditioning   

vi.试听（audition的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• She was auditioning for the role of Lady Macbeth. 她试演了麦克佩斯夫人的角色。
• Which part are you auditioning for? 你试音什么角色？ 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 choir   

n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱

参考例句：

• The choir sang the words out with great vigor.合唱团以极大的热情唱出了歌词。
• The church choir is singing tonight.今晚教堂歌唱队要唱诗。

5 demonstrates   

举行示威游行（或集会）( demonstrate的第三人称单数 )； 示范。展示； 显示； 论证

参考例句：

• I hope this message demonstrates my feelings to the students. 我希望这个祝词能表达出我对学生们的感情。
• I hope this demonstrates to you how I feel. 我希望这能向你表明我的感受。

6 powerful   

adj.有力的，有权力的，强大的

参考例句：

• The UN began to get more and more powerful.联合国开始变得越来越强大了。
• Such are the most powerful voices of our times!这些就是我们时代的最有力的声音！

7 director   

n.主管，导演；主任；理事；董事；处长

参考例句：

• The director has taken the visitors off to his office.经理把客人带到他办公室去了。
• The new director is easy to get along with.新来的主任很好处。

8 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

9 follower   

n.跟随者；随员；门徒；信徒

参考例句：

• He is a faithful follower of his home football team.他是他家乡足球队的忠实拥护者。
• Alexander is a pious follower of the faith.亚历山大是个虔诚的信徒。

10 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

11 foundation   

n.[pl.]地基；基础；基金会；建立，创办

参考例句：

• The foundation of the university took place 600 years ago.这所大学是600年前创办的。
• The Foundation gives money to help artists.那家基金会捐款帮助艺术家。

12 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

13 virus   

n.病毒，滤过性微生物，毒害，恶毒；（一个能够复制、感染其他程序或破坏操作系统的程序）

参考例句：

• He is suffering from a virus infection.他受到病毒感染。
• There is a virus going round the world.世界上流行着一种病毒性疾病。

14 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

15 faithful   

adj.守信的，忠实的，如实的，可靠的

参考例句：

• They promised to be faithful to their ideal for ever.他们保证永远忠于自己的理想。
• We must be honest and faithful to the people.我们对人民必须忠诚老实。

16 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

17 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

18 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

19 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

20 conference   

n.（正式的）会议；讨论

参考例句：

• We're having a conference and we'd like you to sit in.我们将举行一次会议，希望你来旁听。
• The conference will come to a close this afternoon.今天下午会议闭幕。

21 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

22 tribe   

n.部落，种族，一伙人

参考例句：

• This is a subject tribe.这是个受他人统治的部落。
• Many of the tribe's customs and rituals are as old as the hills.这部落的许多风俗、仪式都极其古老。