"Homeless" from Paul Simon's Graceland album is the song that eight young men from Jos, Nigeria, and one from India prepared for their contribution to Calvin's international talent show, Rangeela, in February, 2001. Jude Abaga brought his friends together for many hours of practice in order to teach them the intricate harmonies and interesting rhythms. Joel Eigege, Emmanuel Legbeti, brothers Babajide (B.J.) and Abimbola (Abi) Obesisan, Paul Sokomba, Faeren Madza, Attah Obande, and John Lazarus (the only student in the group from India) are all fine singers, but without Jude's competent leadership there would be no "African Acapella," - the name they chose for their group.

Twice a week when the group gathers to practice, they share their joys and sorrows in prayer. Recently Abaga announced, "I have a concern. I do not know where my mother and father are. There's been so much fighting near my village that e-mails and phone calls are not getting through. And, please pray that my financial problems can be worked out." Lazarus, in a matter-of-fact style, gives advice, "Whenever we don't know what is happening, and we don't understand, at just the right time, God works out the problem. So don't worry."

Uncertain of what the future holds, these young men lean on each other for support. When B.J. Obesisan wanted to give a testimony at a Sunday evening student-led worship service, his friends agreed to sing with him. They all respond with joy to opportunities to share what God has done for them, especially since they left their homelands to seek a higher education.

African Acapella has willingly lent their voices at several Calvin events in the past six months: chapel services, the 125th Anniversary Banquet at the Amway Grand Plaza in May, Entrada opening worship service in June, and the concluding banquet for the Christian Scholarship Conference in September. On all these occasions their music and testimonies have been an encouragement to themselves, as well as to those who listen.

Through a collaborative effort with the alumni and public relations office at Calvin, they have served as ambassadors to the greater community, singing in a dozen churches in West Michigan since August, at the Youth March for Justice for the Racial Justice Institute and at schools and special church meetings.

African Acapella intends to minister through song and testimony as long as they are in the same community. Two members, B.J. Obesisan and Lazarus, graduated this past spring with majors in pre-med and chemistry, respectively, and will soon be off to grad school or home. Others, at various stages of their education, are not sure how long they will continue at Calvin, but they certainly are "at home" when they are singing together.

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