Obama's Kenyan choir inks deal with Universal Music

London, Jan 24 (ANI): A Kenyan youth choir, which performed at President Barack Obama's inaugural ball in the US, has inked a deal with Universal Music.

The Boys Choir of Kenya signed the deal in the transit lounge at London's Heathrow Airport as they returned to Nairobi from Washington DC.

The choir includes boys between 13 years to 24 years of age. The have visited US several times, and through their performances have raised school fees for their members.

They are also helping several orphans.

"We heard about the record deal about two days ago. I felt delighted on behalf of the boys," the BBC quoted artistic director Joseph Muyale as saying.

"We began from humble beginnings and to be recognised by a large recording company is so humbling and quite an honour. We just thank God," he added.

Universal Classics A and R representative Tom Lewis signed the contract at Heathrow Airport's Terminal 4.

He only saw the choir for the first time at the weekend, when a colleague advised him to watch their clip of online.

"It has been frantic. I didn't know how I was going to get to see the choir - they're not allowed to leave the airport because they're in transit," said Lewis.

"At one point, I even considered buying a ticket so I could join them. But we've been allowed into the departures lounge.

"I went onto YouTube and I saw their CNN performance and I thought, 'Wow - I do not want anyone else working with them,'" he added. (ANI)