EDITION: INTERNATIONAL U.S. MEXICO ARABIC TV: CNNi CNN en Espanol Set edition preference Sign up Log in Home Video World U.S. Africa Asia Europe Latin America Middle East Business World Sport Entertainment Tech Travel iReport /* STORY PAGE SPECIFIC CSS */.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr { background:#fff url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.e/img/3.0/mosaic/bg_speccov_hdr.gif') 0px 0px repeat-x; height:74px; overflow:hidden; width:980px; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh1 { position:relative; height:74px; background:url('http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/ssi/story/3.0/banner/inside.africa.inc/inside.africa.jpg') 50% 0 no-repeat;overflow:hidden; width:980px; }.cnn_stryspccvrgebot { height:3px; background:#e6e6e6; font-size:1px; line-height:1px; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh2 { font:bold 10px/12px arial;color:#666;padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh3 { font-family:arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; line-height:21px; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh5 { float:right;margin:30px 10px 0 0;display:inline;text-align:right; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspcvh20 { padding:0 0 2px 0; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspccvh6 { text-align:center; left:0; width:200px; height:74px; position:relative; margin-left:390px; overflow:hidden; }.cnn_stryspccvrgehdr .cnn_stryspccvh6 a { display:block; margin:0 auto; width:200px; height:74px; }#txtbnr .cnn_stryspccvh6 { display:none; }#txtbnr .cnn_stryspcvh1 { background:none; }Part of complete coverage onInside AfricaSHARE THISPrintEmailMore sharingRedditStumbleUponDelicious/* push in config for this share instance */cnn_shareconfig.push({"id" : "cnn_sharebar1","url" : "http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/20/world/africa/the-township-teens-opera/index.html","title" : "The township teens turned opera starlets"});The township teens turned opera starletsBy Teo Kermeliotis and Aja Harris, CNNDecember 20, 2013 -- Updated 1243 GMT (2043 HKT)if (typeof cnnArticleGallery=="undefined"){var cnnArticleGallery={};if(typeof cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=="undefined"){cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList=[];}}var expGalleryPT00=new ArticleExpandableGallery();expGalleryPT00.setImageCount(6);expGalleryPT00.setAdsRefreshCount(3);//cnn_adbptrackpgalimg("\'I Live To Sing\'", 1);.cnn_html_slideshow_metadata > .cnn_html_media_utility::before{color:red;content:'>>';font-size:9px;line-height:12px;padding-right:1px}.cnnstrylccimg640{margin:0 27px 14px 0}.captionText{filter:alpha(opacity=100);opacity:1}.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:visited,.cnn_html_slideshow_media_caption a:link,.captionText a,.captionText a:visited,.captiontext a:link{color:#004276;outline:medium none}.cnnVerticalGalleryPhoto{margin:0 auto;padding-right:68px;width:270px}
A new documentary follows young opera students from South African townships as they set out to introduce themselves to the world of opera. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}
One of the protagonists of "Ndiphilela Ukucula: I Live To Sing" is Linda Nteleza, a powerful soprano who first heard opera while watching a TV commercial. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}Thesele Kemane performs at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Nelson Mandela Day last year.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}Kemane's parents after seeing him perform opera for the first time.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}Nteleza grew up in Khayelitsha, a large and fast-growing township on the outskirts of Cape Town that's struggling with unemployment and health issues.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}American conductor Kamal Khan, director at the University of Cape Town Opera School, coaches Nteleza.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}HIDE CAPTION'I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing'<<<
Thesele Kemane performs at the U.N. General Assembly in New York on Nelson Mandela Day last year.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}
Kemane's parents after seeing him perform opera for the first time.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}
Nteleza grew up in Khayelitsha, a large and fast-growing township on the outskirts of Cape Town that's struggling with unemployment and health issues.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}
American conductor Kamal Khan, director at the University of Cape Town Opera School, coaches Nteleza.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"\'I Live To Sing\'"}HIDE CAPTION'I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing''I Live To Sing'<<<
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6>>>Event.observe(window,'load',function(){if(typeof(cnn_adbptrackpgalimg) == 'function' && typeof(cnnArticleGallery) != 'undefined'){cnn_adbptrackpgalimg(cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[0].image,"The township teens turned opera starlets");}});STORY HIGHLIGHTS"I Live To Sing" is a documentary on opera students from South Africa's townshipsIt follows three young singers as they set out to launch a career in operaThe students often had to overcome adversity and resistance to follow their dreamsThesele Kemane is auditioning for prestigious U.S. opera schools(CNN) -- For Makudu, it all started with a friend playing him a Luciano Pavarotti record; for Linda, it was a TV commercial featuring a powerful soprano singer; and for Thesele, a community choir practice in his township. These flashes of operatic singing were all it took for the three young South Africans to instantly fall under the spell of opera and never look back.
Makudu, Linda and Thesele are the stars of "Ndiphilela Ukucula: I Live to Sing," a compelling documentary released earlier this year spotlighting the rising wave of talented opera singers emerging from South Africa's black townships.Born as South Africa was throwing off the chains of apartheid, the film's stars came to discover the enchanting world of opera in their teens, entranced by its beautiful voices and the magnificent music. Since then, they've sung their way from humble beginnings to South Africa's top stages, thrilling opera audiences in their country and beyond.Along the way, the determined singers had to overcome everything from financial hardship and health struggles to social resistance and lack of support in order to follow their dreams.Read this: Township girl to opera diva"If you had told me a few years ago that classical French and Italian opera is an art form that's gaining in popularity in black South African townships, I certainly would have been surprised -- in a way that I think many of the audiences for the film are," says Julie Cohen, director of the film.The national sports in South Africa are not soccer or rugby, but choirs.Michael Williams, Cape Town Opera CompanyRich traditionWhat Cohen came to realize was that opera has become popular among some people in South Africa's townships thanks to the widespread culture of community choirs and competitive choral singing.This strong musical tradition has paved the way for many talented young singers to develop an interest in classical opera, says Michael Williams, managing director of the Cape Town Opera Company, one of the continent's most famous production houses."The national sports in South Africa are not soccer or rugby, but choirs," notes Williams. "The culture of choral singing in South Africa is huge. It's deep rooted in the community and has a huge repertoire," he adds."And what happens with choir singers is they reach a sort of a ceiling -- because they're singing traditional works ... then they start moving towards opera genre and it opens up a new world for them."var currExpandable="expand112";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.network='cnnintl';mObj.source='international/2013/09/23/spc-african-voices-pumeza-matshikiza-a.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="C:\Program Files\CartyStudios Corporation\Auto Blogging Software\data\news los angeles timess\sssss\130923123907-spc-african-voices-pumeza-matshikiza-a-00000918-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand112Store=mObj;
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Opera singer inspired by folk songsvar currExpandable="expand312";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.network='cnnintl';mObj.source='business/2013/01/28/marketplace-africa-south-ballet-harvard.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="C:\Program Files\CartyStudios Corporation\Auto Blogging Software\data\news los angeles timess\sssss\130128065822-marketplace-africa-south-ballet-harvard-00000501-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand312Store=mObj;
South African ballet fights for survivalRising stars"I Live To Sing," which was first aired in July on WNET in New York, is centered around the University of Cape Town Opera School -- once an all-white school and now home to remarkable singers from South Africa's black townships, some of whom have graced international stages such as The Met and La Scala.The documentary follows Linda, Thesele and Makudu through their studies at the school as they set out to introduce themselves to the world of opera and become professional classical singers.Throughout the film, the stars' charisma and personality shine through.Thesele Kemane, 26 at the time of filming last year, is an extremely committed and disciplined bass baritone with confidence in his talent; Linda Nteleza, 24, is a shy soprano with extraordinary singing abilities; and Makudu Senaoana, the youngest of the protagonists, is a gregarious, outspoken 20-year-old with a powerful tenor voice.The filmmakers capture the singers' preparations for a performance of "The Tales of Hoffman" at Cape Town's main opera house -- a landmark building in the anti-apartheid struggle.Read this: Five African festivals you can't missThey also follow the students to the United States, where they spend a summer as apprentices at the esteemed Glimmerglass Festival. While in New York, Kemane was invited to sing at the U.N. General Assembly to mark Nelson Mandela Day on July 18."I'd never dreamed that I would be singing at the United Nations," says Kemane. "I felt delighted," he adds, "singing there and honoring our late Nelson Mandela."But along with capturing the triumphant performances and the intense training, the filmmakers also travel to the townships where the young singers grew up, often under challenging conditions.Nteleza hails from Khayelitsha, a sprawling township on the outskirts of Cape Town that has been struggling not only with high unemployment and crime rates but also health scares.Last year was actually the first time my father actually saw me singing ... that is when he actually approved of opera music.Thesele Kemane"(It has) one of the highest rates of tuberculosis in the world and in fact Linda herself has suffered from a bout of tuberculosis," says Cohen. "Her parents have both passed away from health problems, so she has not had an easy life."Kemane is from Galeshewe, a township in Northern Cape that is also struggling with rife unemployment. His extraordinary talent shone from an early age, winning several youth singing competitions, and last week he traveled to the United States to audition for, among others, Juilliard, the prestigious New York music school.But at the time, his discovery of opera and his decision to pursue classical singing professionally didn't go down too well with his financially struggling family."My father wanted nothing to do with it," says Kemane, whose parents are both unemployed."The last thing our parents want for their children is for them to live as difficult as they did -- so now they all want careers that they know you'll definitely get money for sure, and with opera it's kind of difficult," he adds."Last year was actually the first time my father actually saw me singing ... that is when he actually approved of opera music."0Comments »SHARE THISPrintEmailMore sharingRedditStumbleUponDelicious/* push in config for this share instance */cnn_shareconfig.push({"id" : "cnn_sharebar2","url" : "http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/20/world/africa/the-township-teens-opera/index.html","title" : "The township teens turned opera starlets"});
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.cnn_strycrcntrnwsp .cnn_mtpmore { padding:10px 0px 1px 0px; }.cnn_stryccnwsp2 .cnn_stryccnwsp3 { width:100% }Most PopularToday's five most popular storiesFirefighter finds his daughter dying in crash on Christmas EveIran reaches out on Twitter at ChristmasNo stunt: Beyonce's sneak attack on the music industry resets the rulesExplosion rocks university in Cairo, injures 5Wife: Saudi blogger recommended for apostasy trial.OB_SB_1, .OB_SB_2 { padding:0px; }#outbrain_container_1_stripBox .strip-like, #outbrain_container_2_stripBox .strip-like { font-size:18px; }#ob_strip_container_rel_1_stripBox { }#ob_strip_container_rel_1_stripBox .item-container, #ob_strip_container_rel_2_stripBox .item-container { padding-top:8px;border-top:1px solid #E5E5E5; }.ob_box_cont ul li { display:block; height:60px; list-style-type:none; padding-top:8px; padding-bottom:7px; position:relative; width:100%; border-top:1px solid #E5E5E5}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-rec-link-img {float:left;}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-rec-link-img a {display: block; float: left; height: 50px; padding: 3px; position: relative; width: 90px;}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-text-content {padding-left:105px;}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-text-content a {font:bold 12px/15px arial !important;}.ob_box_cont ul li .ob-rec-link-img a .ob_video {position:absolute; top:5px; left:5px;} Loading weather data ...
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This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.
Nigerian jeweler Chris Aire (right) is a master craftsman, famous for his magnificent designs made of diamonds, gold and other precious stones and metals.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":true,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":1,"title":"Chris Aire\'s creations"}
His A-listed clientele ranges from Hollywood superstars, such as Angelina Jolie ...cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":2,"title":"Celebrity clients"}
... to famous musicians like 50 Cent.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":3,"title":"Celebrity clients"}
Aire says inspiration can come from anywhere, at any time. "I see a painting and I'm inspired," he says. "Or I look at a little kid doing something; I look at trees sometimes and I'm inspired; or I look at old art."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":4,"title":"Chris Aire\'s creations"}
The designer's sparkling creations include a $500,000 diamond-coated guitar for hip-hop artist Wyclef Jean.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":5,"title":"Chris Aire\'s creations"}
"I try to listen to what people want," says Aire. "Because sometimes what we articulate is sort of different from what we want ... and because this is something I live and breathe, for someone who doesn't live and breathe it I kind of feel like I have an advantage."cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":6,"title":"Chris Aire\'s creations"}
Glittering diamonds, sapphires, rubies and other gems are encrusted on watches, rings, bracelets and anything else Aire comes up with. cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":7,"title":"Chris Aire\'s creations"}
A model walks the runway at the Chris Aire Spring 2007 fashion show in New York.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":8,"title":"Chris Aire\'s creations"}
In 2004, Aire became the first jeweler to stage a runway show at New York Fashion Week.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":9,"title":"Chris Aire"}
A detail of the accessories on the runway at the Chris Aire Spring 2007 fashion show in New York.cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList[cnnArticleGallery.currentImageList.length]={"currentPicture":false,"x":0,"y":0,"pos":10,"title":"Chris Aire\'s creations"}HIDE CAPTIONChris Aire's creationsCelebrity clientsCelebrity clientsChris Aire's creationsChris Aire's creationsChris Aire's creationsChris Aire's creationsChris Aire's creationsChris AireChris Aire's creations<<<
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Chris Aire's dazzling jewelery journeyvar currExpandable="expand28";if(typeof CNN.expandableMap==='object'){CNN.expandableMap.push(currExpandable);}var mObj={};mObj.type='video';mObj.contentId='';mObj.network='cnnintl';mObj.source='international/2013/12/15/spc-african-voices-chris-aire-c.cnn';mObj.videoSource='CNN';mObj.videoSourceUrl='';mObj.lgImage="C:\Program Files\CartyStudios Corporation\Auto Blogging Software\data\news los angeles timess\sssss\131215090402-spc-african-voices-chris-aire-c-00035509-story-body.jpg";mObj.lgImageX=300;mObj.lgImageY=169;mObj.origImageX="214";mObj.origImageY="120";mObj.contentType='video';CNN.expElements.expand28Store=mObj;
Chris Aire on responsible diamond sourcingInstead, Payton invited Aire to go later that year to a charity event in Miami and show him his creations. There was only one problem: Aire had no money.Undeterred, Aire decided to max out his credit card and buy an airline ticket to Miami, even though he couldn't afford a return flight to L.A. But when he got to Florida, Payton was so impressed with his designs that he immediately placed a $50,000 order, buying a platinum basketball pendant for himself and other jewelry for his friends."That sale transformed my life," says Aire. "Not only did I pay for the flight ticket, I had enough to start building and doing a bunch of my own collection."'Leap of faith'The son of a successful Nigerian businessman, Aire grew up in the West African country's Ivue Uromi region. His father wanted him to go into the family oil business, but instead Aire left Nigeria aged 18 to go to college in the United States.But while working on getting his education, Aire had also to find a way of supporting himself. His first job was flipping burgers in a fast-food restaurant overnight.Read this: Tribal beauty of vanishing life"I would work from 10 pm to 6 am in the morning and then I'll go home, get a couple of hours nap and then go to school at nine," recalls Aire. "I was at school from 9 until about 4 pm -- and then I went home, got ready and repeated that again, five days a week."After graduating from college, Aire tried his luck briefly as an actor and singer, before making his foray into jewelry with the help of a friend whose father was a jeweler.Starting from the bottom, Aire worked his way up, learning the craft and understanding everything about gold, diamonds and other colored gem stones.After six years of apprenticing under his friend's father, Aire had managed to save $5,000. He then decided it was time to strike out on his own and form his own company."It was a leap of faith and I took that leap of faith," says Aire. "I was very confident in my faith because I believe whatever it is that puts the inspiration in your mind has within it its own fulfillment."There is going to be a time when Africa, starting with Nigeria, becomes the envy of luxury market.
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How a British man's quest for a six-pack sparked an idea to improve water accessibility in Ghana.Ghana'a heart surgery pioneerOctober 4, 2013 -- Updated 1320 GMT (2120 HKT)
Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng is a heart surgeon and founder of Ghana's only cardiothoracic center.Township girl to opera divaSeptember 23, 2013 -- Updated 1234 GMT (2034 HKT)
Pumeza Matshikiza grew up in the townships of Cape Town, but the South African soprano is now an international opera star. Charlize Theron's AIDS crusadeSeptember 16, 2013 -- Updated 1111 GMT (1911 HKT)
Hollywood star Charlize Theron is campaigning to prevent the spread of HIV in her homeland of South Africa.The rise of Mali's pop princessAugust 14, 2013 -- Updated 1139 GMT (1939 HKT)
Meet singer Fatoumata Diawara, one of world music's most exciting stars.10 must-see African movies August 2, 2013 -- Updated 1027 GMT (1827 HKT)
The founder of the "African Oscars," Peace Anyiam-Osigwe, picks her favorite films of the 21st century. Check them out.See more African Voices 
Each week African Voices brings you inspiring and compelling profiles of Africans across the continent and around the world..cnn_strycrcntrnwsp .cnn_mtpmore { padding:10px 0px 1px 0px; }.cnn_stryccnwsp2 .cnn_stryccnwsp3 { width:100% }Most PopularToday's five most popular storiesFirefighter finds his daughter dying in crash on Christmas EveIran reaches out on Twitter at ChristmasNo stunt: Beyonce's sneak attack on the music industry resets the rulesExplosion rocks university in Cairo, injures 5Wife: Saudi blogger recommended for apostasy trial