( CNN ) -- `` Heal those people with your music , your movements within your souls . '' It 's a powerful piece of advice that Todd Twala , co-founder of `` Africa Umoja : Spirit of Togetherness , '' gives to her cast backstage before their opening show in Atlanta , the second city on their first tour in the United States . Africa Umoja is a celebration of the evolution of South African culture through its history of music and dance . Sharing the joy that comes with overcoming obstacles of poverty in their own lives , the cast , which includes former street children , moves its audiences with explosive energy , earth-shaking beats and endless fun . The show celebrates lives of freedom , and encourages people to move past their differences with love . Joe Theron , one of its producers , describes the show as one that `` intertwines all of the hardships South Africa faced , like apartheid , in a manner where you will never feel oppressed . It 's uplifting . Even in hard times there is always laughter . '' Africa Umoja was originally conceived in 1983 as an outreach program that took displaced and impoverished South African children off the streets . Twala and co-founder Thembi Nyandeni retired from dancing professionally in order to create the project . It began as a course teaching children ( who later became the show 's original cast ) how to sing and dance in traditional ways . Through her training , Twala reminds them to persevere through hardship and `` never , ever give up on life . '' Read also : Band keeps youngsters from gang life . Thabo Legae , the show 's lead drummer , is just one example of Twala 's encouragement . He says that his career with Umoja `` saved '' him from the potential danger that comes with street life , making him a role model for children to make something of themselves , and be grateful for their rich African history . `` Music is life to us , '' says Legae . He says playing the drums is a skill he inherited . `` I feel like my ancestors are talking to me when I play them . '' With the beat of his drum , he and the cast take audiences through the evolution of their culture , highlighting multiple milestones in South African history . The show begins with the early days of the drum , with tribal dancers wearing traditional skins , leathers and furs . It continues through the oppressive chaos of apartheid in Johannesburg , as adults retreat to dancing in crowded speakeasies , filled with jazz . As times change , the cast reveals the evolution through the post-apartheid era with remnants of the rhythmic tribal sounds in the beats of contemporary urban `` Kwaito '' music . Twala says music kept people in South Africa motivated during difficult times . `` It was through music that we kept sane during the apartheid so that we could express ourselves through our bodies and our voices . '' She says the beat of the drum is vital part of their culture 's unity : `` The drum is our heartbeat in Africa . I ca n't imagine African people without a drum , its beat reminds us that our hearts beat as one . '' Read this : Fight club - boxing gives teenagers hope . Having toured close to 50 countries since 2001 , Africa Umoja has jumped into new territory after being sponsored by the International Arts Foundation to embark on its tour of the United States . The crowd-pleasing authenticity of each song at the Atlanta show was indicative of how almost anyone can relate to the emotions that come with their sounds . Every song was representative of the diverse ethnicities in South Africa , and featured about nine different languages . Ancestral legacy is a prominent theme in the show . Theron reflects on how the history of many cultures is often neglected and should not be forgotten . `` As the saying goes : 'If you do n't know where you come from , how do you know where you 're going ? ' '' he says . By paying homage to those who have struggled before them , Twala has shaped the theme of the show around keeping their stories alive , helping younger generations to learn about their roots and how their lives have been shaped today . She reminds her cast that their success could not be achieved without struggle . `` They should never forget that somebody sacrificed so that you can get where you are today ... Mandela went through hell and back for us . I would n't have this show if Mandela did n't sacrifice himself for our freedom . '' There is a scene dedicated to Nelson Mandela and his work during the apartheid era . `` Long Road to Freedom '' is a song written specifically for the show , in his honor . Umoja opened its show in Atlanta on July 18 -- Nelson Mandela 's 95th birthday . Even though the cast have performed for the former South African president in the past , they agree it was a `` special day '' they will never forget . Read also : Mandela 's life in poster art . The standing ovations were evidence that any experience with Umoja will be unforgettable as they continue to lift spirits and share their joy with one city at a time .
Africa Umoja is an explosive musical stage show , featuring traditional song and dance . It started out as a project to help South African street children . The show tells South African history , in multiple musical styles . It is currently touring United States .