On the Town: Seven young women, dressed in the traditional vibrant colours of South Africa, raised the roof singing about courage and resolution.
"The songs [we sing] are mostly from when Nelson Mandela was in prison," explained lead singer Nomleth Nyapokoto (20). "We are singing 'I must have a backbone for what I amstriving for' - once I fight, I fight."
The others in the Children of Soweto Gospel Choir included her sister, Mazazi, (who is 16 today), sisters Ludwe (16) and Lazola Zondani (14), Sikelelwa Nomgqokwana (19), Mposh Cekeshe (16) and Winiswa Nxele (17).
Their voices rose in unison and their feet pounded out the beat, as they helped launch this year's Festival of World Cultures in Dublin's Russell Court Hotel this week.
Now in its sixth year, the festival provides "important ways of telling a story . . . of painting a picture of what it is to be human", said Eugene Regan SC, chair of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which hosts and organises the three-day event each year.
"We are putting on a series of traditional and indigenous collaborations," said Jody Ackland, the festival's director, citing as an example the UK group, Trans-Global Underground, who will play with Bulgarian folk stars Trio Bulgarka.
Among those at the launch were members of the Sikh community in Ireland, including Rani Chabha and Raka Puri, with her husband, Dr Jasbir Singh Puri, as well as Adekunle Gómez, of the African Cultural Project; Dublin-based designer Kari Rosvall, from Norway; Tony Reilly, of the British Council, which is one of the festival's partners; and DJs Duncan Mkandla and Nicky Khuma.
As tasters of what's to come from the 50 participating countries, Wendy Marlatt danced the Rashani Tribal Belly Dance with Tatiana Guedes and Ronelle Tibaldi, and Monina Paz and Julian Brigatte danced a tango. And the dancing and singing continued until late in the evening.
• The Festival of World Cultures will take place in Dún Laoghaire next Fri, Sat and Sun. For details, go to www.festivalofworldcultures.com