From the heart of Orange Farm, a remarkable indigenous gospel choir is proving that faith, unity, discipline and a passion for music can transform a local ministry into a nationally recognised cultural force.
Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir, founded in March 2019 under the leadership of TD Tsotetsi, a music producer, conductor and director, has emerged as one of the notable voices in South Africa’s indigenous choral music landscape.
The choir, based at 13160 Mokoena Street, Ext 7B, Orange Farm, 1805, operates as part of Lefelleng Apostolic Church of South Africa and is guided by a powerful vision: to raise a generation that worships in truth, serves Orange Farm with love, wins souls and positively impacts the community.
That vision took a major step forward at the 2nd Annual Choral Indigenous Music Awards (CIMA 2026), where Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir was crowned CIMA 2026 Best Apostolic Music and also received recognition as the Most Voted Group.
A Moment of National Recognition
For the choir, the CIMA 2026 achievement was more than an award. It was a confirmation that their years of dedication, sacrifice, prayer and commitment to indigenous gospel music were beginning to resonate beyond their home community.
Reflecting on the moment, the choir described the victory as unforgettable.
“We were excited and we knew that’s where Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir belongs in indigenous music. It was an unforgettable moment. We were overwhelmed with joy, gratitude and excitement.”
The recognition represents the reward for years of hard work and dedication, but the choir sees the award not as an ending, but as a new beginning.
According to the choir, the CIMA 2026 Best Apostolic Music Award has provided national recognition that could help them open doors to potential funding opportunities, recording partnerships and industry relationships.
The choir hopes that these opportunities will enable them to continue building on the legacy of indigenous choral music while ministering with excellence and humility.
Seven Years of Faith and Music
Although the choir was formally founded in March 2019, its members describe their journey as one built over approximately seven years of musical and spiritual development.
At the centre of their work is a desire to use music as an instrument of healing.
Their aspirations include recording more music, strengthening their church and community presence, registering and developing their organisational structures, and creating opportunities to give back to the Orange Farm community.
Their love for gospel music and passion for worship have also inspired them to preserve and continue the tradition of indigenous music.
For Lefelleng, music is not simply entertainment.
It is ministry. It is prayer. It is testimony.
The choir says its music carries messages of hope, faith, love and salvation, offering comfort when words are difficult to find.
Their message is simple but powerful: regardless of how long a person may have to wait, God remains faithful.
Serving God and Serving the Community
Lefelleng Apostolic Church’s vision extends beyond the pulpit and choir platform.
The church’s mission includes Sunday services, youth ministry, choir activities, prayer and community outreach. One of its important community initiatives is a monthly feeding scheme held on the first Sunday of each month.
Through these activities, the choir and church seek to demonstrate that worship must be accompanied by service.
Their community work is particularly important in Orange Farm, where the choir believes that young people need positive opportunities, mentorship, inspiration and spaces where they can develop their talents.
The choir is therefore committed to uplifting young people through music, stage performances, community activities and commemorations of important social causes and awareness campaigns.
Indigenous Music as Identity and Heritage
For Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir, indigenous choral music represents far more than a musical genre.
It is part of who they are.
The choir believes that preserving indigenous choral music allows future generations to understand and appreciate their cultural heritage while continuing to worship through traditional harmonies and African languages.
Their approach combines authentic indigenous gospel sound with a strong commitment to worship.
This commitment is reflected in what the choir identifies as some of its unique characteristics: its approach to composition, clean musical style, distinctive uniforms, disciplined goal-setting, authentic indigenous gospel sound and passion for worship.
Together, these elements help create a musical identity that the choir believes is uniquely its own.
Faith at the Centre
Faith remains the foundation of Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir’s journey.
The choir believes that every song is an act of worship and an opportunity to communicate God’s love.
Their philosophy is built around patience, perseverance and trust in God’s timing.
For the members, success cannot simply be measured by trophies, recognition or performances. Their ministry must remain bigger than the recognition they receive.
Their advice to other emerging choirs is therefore straightforward:
Stay humble. Work hard. Remain disciplined. Put God first. Never stop learning and growing.
The choir believes that ministry should always come before recognition, because God’s timing is ultimately greater than human expectations.
Overcoming Challenges Through Unity
The road to CIMA recognition has not been without difficulties.
One of the choir’s biggest challenges has been balancing personal responsibilities with the demands of choir commitments.
Many of its members are unemployed, creating financial limitations that can make it difficult to achieve some of the goals included in their annual plans.
Yet, rather than allowing these challenges to define them, the choir has relied on faith and unity to continue moving forward.
Their journey demonstrates that community-based cultural organisations and church choirs can continue creating meaningful work even when resources are limited.
Every milestone achieved is therefore celebrated as a step towards a larger vision.
Building on the CIMA 2026 Victory
The choir’s CIMA 2026 recognition has already opened new opportunities.
Among its recent milestones are work towards recording its first EP with KM Records, titled “Hossannah ya Lefelleng,” radio exposure through Thetha FM, a thanksgiving ceremony and award certification.
The choir has also received national and community media exposure following its CIMA achievement, including interviews with Sounds of Azania and 1Africa Bliss, as well as coverage in Orange Farm News.
These opportunities are helping Lefelleng move from being a local church choir towards becoming a recognised contributor to South Africa’s indigenous gospel music industry.
The choir is also prayerfully working on new music and other ministry projects, with plans to share these developments with supporters in the future.
Looking Towards the Future
Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir’s ambitions extend beyond its recent awards.
The choir plans to continue growing both spiritually and musically, reach more communities, record music that contributes to spiritual healing and represent indigenous gospel music with excellence.
Its long-term vision is to create music that can travel beyond Orange Farm while remaining firmly rooted in its cultural, spiritual and community identity.
The CIMA 2026 victory has given the choir renewed motivation to pursue these goals.
Rather than viewing national recognition as the destination, Lefelleng sees it as a stepping stone.
A Victory Shared With the Community
The choir is clear that its CIMA achievement does not belong to its members alone.
It belongs to everyone who prayed, voted, encouraged and supported them.
The choir expressed its gratitude to God, its church leadership, choir leaders, choir members, families, supporters and the Orange Farm community, as well as everyone who participated in the CIMA voting process.
Their message to supporters is one of appreciation:
“Thank you for believing in us, praying for us and voting for us. This victory belongs to all of us.”
The choir promises to continue serving God with humility and excellence while producing music that brings hope to communities.
Above all, they remain committed to giving all the glory to God.
CIMA and the Future of Indigenous Choral Music
The success of Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir also demonstrates the importance of platforms such as the Choral Indigenous Music Awards.
CIMA provides a national platform for indigenous gospel and choral groups to be recognised for their artistic contribution, cultural preservation and commitment to their communities.
For emerging choirs that often operate with limited resources, such recognition can provide visibility, credibility and opportunities to connect with audiences, funders, media platforms and the broader music industry.
Lefelleng’s story illustrates why indigenous choral music deserves continued investment and recognition.
It is a story of faith, heritage, resilience, community and hope.
From Orange Farm to the national stage, Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir is demonstrating that when music is rooted in faith and culture, it can become more than a performance.
It can become a ministry, a cultural legacy and a voice for a community.
LEFELLENG APOSTOLIC CHURCH OF SOUTH AFRICA
Choir: Lefelleng Apostolic Church Choir
Founded: March 2019
Founder / Conductor / Director: TD Tsotetsi
Location: Orange Farm, Gauteng
CIMA 2026: Best Apostolic Music
CIMA 2026: Most Voted Group
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