Many who came already knew the songs. And that’s all it took to light up the place. From the very first number, they were on their feet, dancing and chanting in unison with the choir.

About a thousand people filled up the hall during the maiden performance of South African gospel singers Joyous Celebration at the Yaounde conference center at the weekend.

Joyous Celebration were brought to town to thank Cameroon for standing by South Africa during both apartheid and the first 20 years of multiracial politics, said the high commissioner Zanele Makina.

South African embassies around the continent are showing similar gratitude in their own ways. Yaounde decided to put up the performance to highlight the often ignored role the church played in the anti-apartheid struggle, Makina said and it turned out to be a great party.

Singer Sylvester Funani got the audience on their feet when he stepped forward to lead in one of dozens of songs performed during the evening. His iconic dreadlocks beat in the air as he hoped from one end of the stage to the other.

“When we started, we started with hymns,” said Funani ahead of the concert, as the group changed into costumes and dusted in makeup backstage. “We tried to revamp hymns. But our music has grown. Just like truth, it is progressive.”

Joyous Celebration now mix contemporary worship songs with traditional South African music. Many of their compositions have become popular anthems in Christian churches across the continent, thanks to repetitive lyrics that make them easy to learn and sing along.

In 19 years, the group has broken barriers that they never imagined.

“We’ve gone to places where gospel music was not welcome,” said Funani. “And we have also helped to bring the youth [to God], because when the youth see something that’s got to do with God, they feel that it’s too farfetched for them.”

Sitting through the performance, it’s easy to see why young people are drawn to their music. Song after song kept them on their feet. Some repeatedly charged forward, forcing security personnel to block them from reaching the stage.

Joyous Celebration do more than sing music. They are now considered a project that involves detecting and promoting young talent. Social Media are full of reports of people being healed from diseases during their performances.

The group have stood out in a country known for great music. They are now considered a leading producer of gospel music in South Africa and their concerts attract thousands. Like many of the country’s musical groups, they are closely associated with South Africa’s political history.

They were founded at the dawn of the general elections of 1994 that swept the African National Congress to power. The elections were the first in which black people participated. South Africans consider that historic milestone as the birthday of their country’s young democracy.

Joyous Celebration were instrumental in shaping the new South Africa, Funani said.

“After the apartheid regime in 1994, our founders came together in 1995 and decided [that] our country had been through too much in terms of turmoil, apartheid and so on [and created] a concept where they can unite the country through song.”

Joyous Celebration are a 6-piece band with over 40 members and 18 albums. They now have musicians from at least three countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe and Swaziland. In 19 years, they have clearly done more than unite a once deeply divided South African society.