Why Choral Music?
In a culture where it is often taboo to speak of the disease, it is particularly powerful that people are joining their voices together to sing about it. Singing about HIV in the context of a choir enables people to address HIV as a community, providing a much-needed support network to those affected by the virus, and breaking down the deadly stigma surrounding HIV (which often hinders the spread of accurate information about prevention and treatment). Black South African choral music played a vital role in the anti-apartheid movement, and can be used in similar ways in the struggle against HIV. I believe that if black South Africans are able to draw upon their own cultural resources to stop the spread of HIV, they will feel more empowered in their efforts, and more invested in the struggle. About the Songs People are singing many different types of songs that have to do with HIV. Here are some examples of the different types of songs: People are singing educational songs about how to
