Whitney Houston’s iconic concert in South Africa that took place after President Nelson Mandela’s historic election will soon be shown in theaters this fall. The concert, originally performed in 1994, has been remastered and rebranded as “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban).” The release is a collaboration between Whitney Houston’s estate, Sony Music Entertainment, and Trafalgar Releasing.
The limited theatrical screening of the concert film will premiere on October 23 and will showcase Houston’s previously unreleased show in Durban, South Africa. Following the theatrical release, a new live album titled “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban)” is set to be launched on November 8.
In a statement, Pat Houston, Whitney’s sister-in-law and estate executor, expressed how much Whitney loved South Africa, its people, and Nelson Mandela. She emphasized the significance of this concert in Whitney’s career and the joy of sharing it with fans, the South African people, and a new generation.
Whitney Houston’s series of concerts in South Africa in 1994 marked a celebratory moment of unity and freedom in the newly post-apartheid nation after Mandela’s election victory. The concerts attracted over 200,000 attendees and raised funds for various local South African children’s charities through her foundation.
The remastered concert footage has been converted into 4K video with enhanced audio for an immersive viewing experience. It will be screened in nearly 900 cinemas across more than 25 countries worldwide. The film will capture the energy and love shared during this memorable performance.
Rickey Minor, Whitney’s longtime musical director, described the profound impact of their visit to South Africa and the electric atmosphere of the concerts celebrating the end of apartheid. Houston’s influential music, including hits like “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” “How Will I Know,” and “Greatest Love of All,” will be featured on the upcoming live album, alongside the previously unreleased track “Love Is.”
Whitney Houston, known for her powerful vocals rooted in the Black church and her mainstream pop appeal, was a chart-topping artist who won numerous awards before her passing in 2012. Marc Allenby, CEO of Trafalgar Releasing, highlighted the enduring relevance of the message of hope and unity from the Durban performance as it resonates today, 30 years later, and expressed excitement for fans to witness the power of the concert on the big screen.
