From Limpopo to the Associates Week Stage

Shosholoza: means "go forward" or "make way." Originally a chant for miners in South Africa, the song today represents hope, unity and solidarity.

Stage left

On June 6, 2025, 12 performers of the Ndlovu Youth Choir waited in the wings of Bud Walton Arena. The arena is expansive, with seating for over 19,000 people, and every seat is filled. Today marks the Associates Week Celebration - the most exciting day of the year. The Walmart and Sam's Club cheers ricochet, lights flash, and the sounds of so many languages drown out the thunderstorm blowing outside.

But backstage, the world feels smaller, claustrophobic by comparison. Spaces are compressed into shadows, cables and wiring run across the narrow walkways, and you can only talk in whispers and hand signals. It's quietly abuzz.

Here in the dark, the choir watches on a monitor as Walmart International CEO Kath McLay speaks from the stage, sharing the impact of Walmart in communities all around the world.

"A word we hear a lot in Africa is Ubuntu. It means humanity to others," she says. "And it reminds us: I am what I am because of who we all are. I can't think of anything that better reflects our purpose and values. That's why we believe in Africa."

In the glow of the screen, Sandile Manila, the choir's longest-running member, nods and smiles. Others nearby stretch, fidget with bracelets and adjust their costumes. Some sit quietly on a small staircase, shoulder to shoulder, their toes tapping. Some pace and sway, unable to keep still.

Then, the stagehand cues. They line up. The curtain pulls, and light streams in.

More than music

Founded in 2009 as part of the Ndlovu Care Group's outreach program, the choir began as a way to keep local youth in Moutse, Limpopo, engaged and inspired. Limpopo - the northernmost province of South Africa - is renowned for its wildlife, mountain ranges and game reserves like the Kruger National Park. It's also home to more than 6 million people in both suburban communities and spread across the bushveld (woodlands and thorny vegetation.) It is dense and sparse, rich in culture and challenging in accessibility. It is a land that contains multitudes.

In the early days, the choir was a small after-school program of about 12 singers, where children could gather, sing and develop discipline through music.

"The initial idea was to take severely disadvantaged children and to give them the opportunity to have a music education at the standard they would receive at a private school, let's say in America or one of the wealthier suburbs," said Ralf Schmitt, the choir's conductor and director. But, after seeing the program's older attendees struggle to find work and direction, he decided to develop it into a working ensemble and, hopefully, create sustainable employment.

It's this mission that sets the choir apart.

"Being in the choir has introduced me to so many things - traveling the world, building my confidence, performing in front of thousands and thousands of people," Sandile said. Now 30 years old, Sandile has been a part of the choir since its founding. "Being in the choir has taught me not to be afraid, to feel like I can conquer anything."

In rural provinces like Limpopo, opportunity can be scarce. For many young people there, the absence of prospects can lead to poverty, vulnerability to crime and a sense of hopelessness.

The Ndlovu Youth Choir disrupts this cycle.

"I have made so many discoveries about myself, about music, since joining the choir," said Lungelo Masango, a choir member since 2014. "I learned what music can do and how far music can go. It's taught me discipline and presentation, how you present yourself and how you present your craft."

Members receive not only music training, but also life skills coaching, academic support and travel opportunities. They are exposed to new cultures and gain confidence performing on global stages. Most importantly, these experiences present possibilities and new visions of what their futures could be.

Why opportunity matters

In a country where nearly half of young people are unemployed, and where economic inequality remains one of the highest globally, access to programs like the Ndlovu Youth Choir can be life changing. It's not just art - it's agency.

"When I first saw them perform during rehearsals, I knew it was going to be a powerful moment for associates," Kath said. "The Ndlovu Youth Choir reaffirms what we already know about Africa: there's so much talent and potential here that just needs an opportunity to shine."

After traveling roughly 30 hours to Northwest Arkansas, the Ndlovu Youth Choir took the stage. The morning's thunderstorms had shaken Bud Walton, but now the stadium vibrated with a different energy. Associates from Africa, Chile, Mexico, India, Canada and more seated on the arena floor danced alongside the Ndlovu Choir as they ran through the aisles. For a few minutes, associates from all over the world were singing and dancing together, showing that we all have a little "Shosholoza" in us.

"Fairy tales don't just happen. It takes extraordinary people to be part of them," Ralf said. He watched the performance from the group's waiting area and was there to greet the group with an enthusiastic hug and a smile afterward. "To see them on a stage of this magnitude - I think when we first walked into the arena we were like, 'Oh, you're not playing games here,' - it's a beautiful representation of the potential of the African continent."

About 100 members have cycled through the choir since its inception. Ralf shared that one alumnus is studying to be a pharmacist while another has graduated and is a teacher. Because of the choir's ongoing success, many have stayed on to pursue careers in music, and week after week, in their rehearsal space in Limpopo, these choir veterans gather with a new generation of young singers. Today, the choir boasts about 40 performers total, with ages ranging from nine to 30.

During their performance at Associates Week, we heard more than music. We heard what happens when youth are given a stage, a mentor and a reason to believe that their lives can reach beyond the borders of their circumstances.

In her closing remarks during Associates Week, Kath said, "Walmart's culture travels the world." And it's true. Our commitment to helping people save money and live better crosses borders, impacting communities near and far, and we're excited to bring new opportunities to South Africa with the opening of our first branded stores in the region later this year.

The future is bright in Africa. The Ndlovu Youth Choir's journey is proof of something we strongly believe at Walmart: When we invest in people, the world gets a better future.