Whitney Houston’s Iconic South African Performance to Hit Theatres For 30th Anniversary

Whitney Houston's historic South African performance from 1994 is set to return to the big screen to celebrate its 30th anniversary. 

The concert, which took place at Kings Park Stadium in Durban, will be featured in a special theatrical release as part of Whitney Houston: The Concert for a New South Africa. This film will be shown in theatres worldwide, offering fans a chance to experience this landmark event anew.

Image Courtesy: People

In 1994, Houston performed in Durban, Johannesburg, and Cape Town, making her the first major 

Western artist to perform in South Africa following the end of Apartheid and Nelson Mandela's election. The concerts, which supported local South African children’s charities, were groundbreaking moments in music history.

The concert film, produced and directed by Marty Callner, will be released by Trafalgar Releasing and Sony Music Entertainment, in collaboration with The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and Primary Wave Music. This release includes the never-before-seen performance from Durban, showcasing Houston’s incredible stage presence and powerful voice.

Callner, who directed Houston multiple times, described the Durban show as "pure magic" and "the best performance I have ever witnessed," expressing excitement that this special night will now be available for global audiences to enjoy.

Alongside the concert film, a new live album titled ‘The Concert for a New South Africa’ (Durban) will be released. The album will feature Houston’s greatest hits, such as ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)’, ‘How Will I Know’, ‘I Have Nothing’, ‘Greatest Love of All’, and ‘I Will Always Love You’, along with classics like ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Home’. Additionally, the album will include the previously unreleased track ‘Love Is’, adding further excitement for fans.

-Sushmita Sarkar