BY DAVID CHIKOKO IN MIRERANI
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) Arusha Central Cathedral choir, popularly known as Walawi gospel group and outreach 2022, has qualified for the finals of the diocesan gospel singing competition after emerging overall winner in the preliminary round held in Mirerani, Manyara Region, last weekend.
The Arusha-based choir collected 80 points, the highest across the competition in the orchestra category, securing its place in the finals scheduled to be held in Babati on September 13, 2026.
Its orchestra performance was among the highlights of the colourful event, drawing some of the loudest applause of the day as the choir blended music, movement and voices into an entertaining presentation.
The Purana Lutheran Church grounds came alive with gospel melodies, traditional rhythms and enthusiastic cheering as 20 choirs from across the ELCT Central Northern Diocese competed for a place in the finals.
From the carefully arranged harmonies of the a cappella groups to the vibrant Maasai traditional performances, the competition offered the large crowd a rich celebration of music, faith and culture.
Other participating choirs included: Namayaki choir from namelok, Oloki Union choir of Nduruma, Kibaya of Kiteto. Umoja Ruvu of Ruvu Ngage, Umoja Bagata from Arumeru, Tumaini choir of Ruvu Remiti, Imani choir from Ngusero.
Others are Namayana choir, Mwangaza from Olasite Bondeni, Lesenai of Simanjiro Mirerani, Angaza choir, songambele – Arusha City, Sauti ya aliyae nyikani choir from Mirerani. Imani Ngusero group, Neema choir of Longosoiti – Simanjiro. Lebosoli, Imani Cathedral – Sokoni One, Usingi Ngage, Umoja choir, Engelang’eti from Lobo, Ufunuo choir from Njoro, Kiteto.
Last not least Imani Migungani choir, Arusha City, Unabii choir from Terati and Bangwata Parish choir.
The choirs competed in six categories: men’s a cappella (vocal performance without using music instruments), women’s a cappella, mixed a cappella, orchestra, mixed cultural performance and Maasai traditional performance.
The competition was judged by music experts Traves Ayo of ELCT Mwika Bible School and Raudul Stubbs of the Music Department at Tumaini University Makumira.
Stubbs praised the steady improvement in the quality of the annual competition, singling out the traditional performances as particularly impressive.
With the Mirerani contest behind them, Walawi and Outreach will now turn their attention to Babati, where they will seek to repeat their winning form and claim the diocesan title.
