20 years of the Peace Train in South Africa
Durban, South Africa
December of 2013 marks the 20 th anniversary of the creation of the Peace Train, a musical movement started in South Africa. Originally a racially mixed choir and band that toured to promote unity and an end to apartheid in 1993, the Peace Train has since spread across the map. In an interview in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Sharon Katz spoke of her journey as one of the founders of the group.
First, however, it is essential to understand the basics of apartheid in South Africa.
In 1948 the Afrikaner National Party came to power and began more than forty years of legal segregation. The laws relegated individuals to one of five groups
(White, Coloured, Black, Indian, or Asian) and created strict parameters on their lives, extending from where they could live, in what circumstances groups were allowed to interact (if at all) and practically every aspect of life. Resistance was present from apartheid’s inception, eventually being led by Nelson Mandela who, despite being sentenced to life imprisonment in 1964, is often cited as one of the most important and influential individuals during the struggle to escape from the clutches of government sanctioned racism and segregation. In 1994 South Africa elected Mandela as the first democratically elected president and has since worked to deconstruct apartheid and the problems it caused.
It was in this atmosphere, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa, that Sharon Katz, a white woman, grew up. As a teenager struggling to come to terms with the dehumanizing policies of apartheid, she began sneaking out to the surrounding townships to watch underground plays by black actors. Though she risked arrest, since mixing across color lines was illegal and Athol Fugard’s acting groups were practically considered terrorists, Katz became close friends with a number of the actors including John
Kani, a renowned actor, director, and playwright. Katz also began playing guitar
(which she started at a young age) and singing with fellow musicians, learning
African styles, rhythms, and even languages in the process.
After moving to the country for a period, she moved to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in
1981 in order to study music therapy at Temple University due to the fact that there was no place to study the subject in South Africa. While in Philadelphia and later
New York, Katz brought music therapy to schools and prisons, working with individuals of all races and backgrounds. Katz’s steadfast belief in the power of music shone through during the interview. A musician first, she emphasized the power of music to deconstruct boundaries and build bridges, allowing people to communicate with one another.
With the release of Nelson Mandela from prison in 1990, Katz declared: “I’m going home.” At this time South Africa was going through major changes. Political parties and community groups were unbanned, public uprising was at an all-time high, and it was clear that the government was nearing the end of its ability to maintain the status quo. Passionate to help create Mandela’s ‘Rainbow Nation’, Katz decided to

use the platform of music therapy to facilitate change and peace during the turbulent time of transition.
In 1992, financed by humanitarians, philanthropists and even corporations, Katz and her team of driven individuals started ‘When Voices Meet’ in Durban, a 500voice choir of multi-racial youths ranging in ages from 7 to 18, plus a band. The performance of ‘When Voices Meet’ was attended by a vast array of individuals, including the Zulu king and political representatives. As the production gained attention, the requests for appearances in cities and towns began pouring in, and the
Peace Train was born.
To begin, the sheer number of logistical details was impressive. Acquiring a train proved difficult, particularly because the railways were still run by supporters of the apartheid system. Since it was not financially feasible to get food through the railways, the group organized food to be brought to the train by supporters at each stop. However, most remarkable was the support Katz encountered regarding the
150 children who were the travel-size group of the 500 original choir members.
Katz received parental and community approval for the youths. While there were concerns for safety and a few uncooperative schools or parents (mostly white), she built trust through musical performances and meetings.
The Peace Train departed in December of 1993, joined by Ladysmith Black
Mambazo, for what Katz described as “two weeks of jubilance”. The group performed at each stop along the way often joined by local choirs, using music to bring unity to a nation about to embark on its own journey of integration and inclusion. Despite threats of bombings by both far left and far right political groups, the Peace Train encountered overwhelmingly positive crowds, so much so that Katz spent the next 6-7 years fully engrossed in Peace Train tours, talks, and development that were not limited to South Africa. Katz, 25 singers and dancers, and 10 band members spent five weeks touring the United States in 1995, and have since traveled around the globe.
Though Katz is herself primarily a musician, the Peace Train does not exclusively focus on music. A scholarship fund was set up for the youth who participated, most of whom have gone on to be successful, notably one Malcolm Nhleko who is now a sound engineer for the band. Furthermore, in 2004 the non-profit organization
Friends of the Peace Train formed and has supported projects ranging from orphanages to schools, food programs to HIV/AIDs assistance. Katz has also been giving concerts and leads workshops throughout the U.S. to combat intolerance in schools.
Fueled by her first-hand knowledge of how music can unite and empower people,
Katz transformed her passion for music therapy into a tool to heal and unify South
Africa. The likes of Nelson Mandela and Sting have recognized Katz and the Peace
Train’s impact on South Africa and the larger world.

To memorialize the stunning two-week South African tour and the 20 years of wider work, Friends of the Peace Train is currently raising funds for a documentary, When
Voices Meet. A trailer of the film will be shown at an event on December 1 st , at the
International House in Philadelphia. More information can be found at https://friendsofthepeacetrain.eventbrite.com/ and www.whenvoicesmeet.com,
coming December 2.
Katey Baker-Smith www.sharonkatz.com http://www.sahistory.org.za/liberation-struggle-south-africa www.nelsonmandela.org