Whitney Houston’s epic concert in South Africa, staged after President Nelson Mandela’s landmark election, will be hitting theater screens this fall. Houston’s 1994 performance has been transformed into a fully remastered theatrical release called “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban),” as revealed in a statement from several collaborators, including Houston’s estate, Sony Music Entertainment, and Trafalgar Releasing.
This limited theatrical screening will debut on October 23 and will feature the late singer’s never-before-released show from Durban, South Africa. The release of this concert film will precede a new live album, “The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban),” slated for release on November 8.
“She loved South Africa; she loved the people, and she loved Nelson Mandela,” said Pat Houston, the singer’s sister-in-law and executor of the Houston estate who is also an executive producer on the concert film. “This concert is one of the most consequential concerts of her career. On this momentous 30th anniversary, we are thrilled that we can release this film not only to her fans, but to the people of South Africa and its new generation.”
In 1994, Whitney Houston graced the stage for three concerts in South Africa, including performances in Durban at Kings Park Stadium, Johannesburg, and Cape Town. Her appearances came in a newly unified post-apartheid nation following Mandela’s historic election victory. The concerts drew more than 200,000 attendees, creating a jubilant environment filled with celebrations of freedom, hope, and unity. Proceeds from these concerts benefited numerous local South African children’s charities through her foundation.
For this special film release, Houston’s performance has been meticulously remastered into 4K video with enhanced audio. The concert film will be shown in nearly 900 cinemas across more than 25 countries.
“It was my first time in South Africa, and I don’t think that I was truly prepared for how this trip would change me forever,” said Rickey Minor, a three-time Emmy winner who served as Houston’s musical director for 25 years. “The energy was electric, and the audience was incredible, as we celebrated the end of apartheid. Whitney shared her love and shined her light.”
Earlier that year, Houston had won three Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for “The Bodyguard” soundtrack. She also took home Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Vocal Performance for her massive hit “I Will Always Love You.”
Houston was one of the world’s best-selling artists, known for her effortless and powerful vocals rooted in the Black church but broadened through her pop persona. Over her 25-year career, she sold over 200 million records worldwide and earned six Grammys, 16 Billboard Music Awards, and two Emmys before her death in 2012.
The upcoming live album will feature some of her greatest hits, including “I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me),” “How Will I Know,” “I Have Nothing,” and “Greatest Love of All.” It will also include the previously unreleased track “Love Is.”
“The message of hope and unity from the Durban, South Africa performance is still as relevant today as it was 30 years ago,” said Marc Allenby, the CEO of Trafalgar Releasing. “Fans are going to be blown away by how powerful this is on the big screen.”
