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An Interview with Watoto

Watoto Children’ Choir embarked on their latest concert tour “Oh, What Love” in October, 2016. Since then they have been
traveling around the world in order to share their joyful songs and also preach the gospel. We were thrilled to have a chance to
talk to them.
1. Watoto has performed in many countries up to now. How would you describe Watoto?
A: Watoto is not just a choir This choir is a project of watoto. Watoto is a childcare organisati on that looks aft er children that are
orphans or children who are abandoned. Watoto was started in response to the many children back in Africa in the 1980’s who
did not have parents because of HIV and war. As a result, back in 1994, God spoke to us to start a choir of children from Uganda
to go around the world to tell people about what God has done through Watoto. Many of them were homeless and could not go
to school. Now these children go around the world, telling people what God has done in their lives through Watoto. Also, we raise
money and awareness on what happened back at home. Watoto is a childcare organisati on which answers to the needs of the
children back home.
2. What messages do you want to spread through this concert?
A: This concert is called, “Oh What Love”. We believe the answer to the problems of the world is love. And that love is the love
of Jesus because he loves us so much and we believe if people have love, then we can’t have problems like war, we can’t have
problems like children being abandoned by the roadside, we can’t have problems like divorce in communiti es. We believe love
solves so many problems. If we love each other, then we won’t fi ght even when we have misunderstandings. Instead, we will sti ll
sit down and talk about and solve our problems. “Oh What Love” is related to the story of Watoto. The love of God was shown to
us. As a church, if we are able to love the unloved children, and orphans , it’s because we are extending the love of Jesus to them.
3. How does religion infl uence you or the children in the choir?
A: In Watoto, we believe in Jesus as our Lord and saviour, but we don’t force the children to believe in Jesus. We just teach them,
read the Bible with them. We tell them that’s what we believe in, and if they want to try, we say “Yes, welcome!” and we lead
them to prayer and then they start serving Jesus on their own. We don’t force them. However, we do believe in the Bible and we
believe in Jesus as Watoto. Jesus is the centre of everything that we do.
4. Which moment of the concert is the most touching?
A: One of our young adult members had left school. Anyway, she grew up through Watoto and had a sponsor from Hong Kong
come to see her, so it was a touching moment for her to meet them and receive their help to go back to school. It was very
emoti onal!
5. What will you do during the Christmas holiday?
A: We actually have performances even on Christmas day in Hong Kong since we are in Hong Kong only unti l the 26th January.
Then we go to Malaysia and Singapore and back to Malaysia, then fi nally back to Uganda.
6. When those children grow up, will they sti ll be in the choir?
A: The choir is just a one-year experience so we train for six months, and travel for six months. Aft er the 6 months, they go back
home, and they conti nue in school because they have to go to school. While on the road, we have to teach them because their
schools and their teachers expect them to be sti ll doing their school work. It’s a busy schedule.
7. Have you had any diffi culti es during the tour?
A: Not really. We have found very good people everywhere we go. It’s a good experience for them. We have learnt about Kowloon
Chai in Hong Kong, and there are a lot of things for the children to see. Very tall buildings as well as organised and neat streets are
everywhere.There’s a lot for us to learn.The school environment is diff erent from the schools back at home.
----Questi ons for children-----
8. What’s your dream when you grow up?
Kinvert 9: When I grow up, I want to be a driver.
Blair 12: When I grow up, I will preach so that others may do right things, and tell them how God has changed our lives.
Sheila 11: I want to be a teacher.
Elizabeth 10: When I grow up, I want to be a teacher.
9. How is your school back at home?
Blair: We wake up at 6, and walk a short distance to school.
10. As you have stayed here for a while, what do you think about Hong Kong?
Kinvert: I think Hongkongers walk so quickly.
Blair: I think Hong Kong is the best place I have ever been to because people work together and they build tall buildings, but in
Uganda, you cannot fi nd it.
Sheila: I love Hong Kong because people are hardworking.
Elizabeth: I love Hong Kong because when they say something, they do it.