A world-renowned African choir visited a school this week as part of its world tour. 

The African Children's Choir started their UK tour earlier this month and on Tuesday, it visited Bancroft’s school, in High Road, Woodford Green.

The choir is made up of 18 disadvantaged children from war-torn Uganda aged between 9 and 11-years-old, and the ten girls and eight boys had spent eleven months touring the USA and Canada.  

The tour will see the children travel to Bristol, Dumfries, Belfast, Edinburgh and Cardiff before their final performance in Gravesend in January. 

Each member has been sponsored by charity Music for Life because they are either an orphan, have only one parent or because their parents are too poor to pay for an education. 

Music for Life has educated over 52,000 children and since the inception of African Children's Choir 30 years ago, singers have performed for the Queen and Barack Obama.

During the assembly presentation on Tuesday, some of the students at Bancroft’s were invited to play the drums alongside the choir and some of the girls were asked to dance along.

Teacher Sarah Strong described the visit as “a ray of light”.

She said: “The children melted the hearts of children and teachers alike, with their charming smiles and delightful African tunes, accompanied by ethnic instrumentation.

“The presentation featured songs, hand clapping, traditional dancing and contemporary tunes. The children were radiant with hope, musically gifted and wonderfully entertaining.” 

Music director Adam Baum played the trumpet, whilst the African Children’s Choir accompanied him on the drums.

He said: “Our children were inspired, transfixed and excited by the rhythm and energy of the visiting choir.

“They showed us what we can bring to our music and we were so privileged to have them at Bancroft’s.”