Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra in Central Africa

Twenty years ago, Armand Diangienda, a former commercial pilot, started what is known today as the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra in Congo's capital city of Kinshasa in Central Africa.

The symphony orchestra is comprised of 200 singers and instrumentalists.  The musicians don't get paid for playing in the orchestra.  Some do work in the market, very few, though, make more than $50 a month.

The country of Congo is where most of the musicians live, on unpaved streets with little in the way of running water, electricity or sanitation, with an average life expectancy of no more than 50 years.

Watch and listen below to two videos where the love of music sounds forth.

Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra performing "Carmina Burana"


Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra singers singing "Oh Happy Day"

The two videos above are part of 60 Minutes, Bob Simon, reporting on the Kimbanguist Symphony Orchestra.

Source:  cbs news

Shared with: the healthy home economist