Archbishop Tutu to be sent off by his favourite choir world-renowned Imilonji Ka Ntu Choral Society

The late Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be sent off by his favourite choir, the world-renowned Imilonji Ka Ntu Choral Society, at his funeral in Cape Town on Saturday. Among the many aspects Tutu planned for his funeral, was for the choir to bid him farewell.

A relationship spanning decades, it all began when the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu became the first black General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches over 40-years-ago.

Founder and conductor of the choir, George Mxadana was married to the late Mary Mxadana who was Tutu’s executive assistant at the time.

The choir played an integral part in the struggle for democracy during the dark days of apartheid. And when the going got tough, Tutu would convene a prayer together with the choir at the Khotso House Chapel in Johannesburg.

Mxadana says since then, the choir has been a permanent feature in his life.

“Even when he went to receive his Nobel prize, we didn’t have a whole choir going but we had representation which had people from the choir who were part and parcel. When I was introduced to the World Council of Churches it was through him and I’ve been extensively involved in the activities of the World Council of Churches and all this through him. It began in prayer moments with the Archbishop.”

Imilonji Kantu Choral Society to physically bid its final farewell to the Arch:

On Thursday, the St Albans Cathedral in Pretoria paid tribute to the struggle icon. Pianist at the cathedral, Ronald Jones was honoured to be part of the tribute team.

“I was quite moved by having to play those songs he loved the most and it was a meaningful service and I thought that we paid our last respects very well. I actually enjoyed playing those hymns he loved.”

The Arch played a major role in the planning of his funeral, including compiling a playlist of his favourite hymns by the choir. General-secretary of the South African Council of Churches, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana shared his fond memories of Tutu’s love for the choir.

“George Mxedana has a file of what Desmond wants. I complained to him that there was a piece we should have sung here “jo ke mo Holli” and Desmond would go wild on that. As he said, for the sermon, we should use Khuluma and that’s what we used but I prefer the other one. So that’s the relationship from it’s really deep that’s why I call them Desmond’s choir.”

Mxadana has spent many nights since the passing of Tutu, finding the perfect hymns from a list of his favourites.

“One of the songs he loved dearly is a Sotho song called ‘jo ke mohlolo or ha ke le je’. And whenever that song was sung, it does not matter where it was, he always stood up and encases that’s one of his most favourite songs.”

While the choir was set to join the funeral virtually, last-minute changes were quickly made to make sure he gets the send-off he deserves. The choir will now perform at the cathedral in Cape Town. Mxadana says it’s the only befitting way to send off a giant like him.

“Everything said and done, it was his wish that the choir is there. He actually made a statement to the effect that at one of the vents, he said if I die and ‘Milonji ka ntu’ is not there, I will ask where is Milonji.”

Arch Tutu Funeral | Preparations underway for Saturday’s funeral: