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Whitney Houston fans around the world are in for a rare treat as Sony Music’s Legacy Recordings, in collaboration with The Estate of Whitney E. Houston and Primary Wave Music, brings Whitney Houston: The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban) to audience. The release marks the first time that fans can own a live album and concert film of the music icon, showcasing Houston’s historic performance in post-apartheid South Africa.
Houston’s estate said the 1994 South Africa concerts were more than a musical tour—they were a powerful symbol of hope, freedom, and resilience in a country emerging from decades of racial oppression. Houston became the first major Western artist to perform in South Africa following Nelson Mandela’s election, delivering powerhouse renditions of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “Greatest Love of All,” and “I Will Always Love You” to over 200,000 adoring fans. Her performance in Durban, captured on the new release, helped solidify her place as a music legend and a cultural ambassador of unity.
“This album will remind not just her core fans but music lovers worldwide of Whitney’s virtuosity as a recording artist,” said Pat Houston, the executor of her estate. “The fans have been waiting on this project for over a decade, and they have certainly expressed and made their sentiments known.”
In addition to the album, Whitney Houston: The Concert for a New South Africa (Durban), directed by Marty Callner, recently began screening in cinemas worldwide. The remastered 4K film featuring enhanced audio will be shown in nearly 1,000 theaters across more than 30 countries, including South Africa, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. The estate executors said this will allow fans to experience Whitney’s emotional and electrifying live presence like never before.
Houston’s career is defined by remarkable achievements that redefined what it meant to be a pop and R&B superstar. She remains the only artist with seven consecutive No. 1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and the first female artist to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. With over 200 million records sold worldwide, Houston set standards in music that few can match, and she was the first Black artist to earn three Diamond-certified albums.
“Whitney’s South Africa concerts were special to her, and they were special to the world,” said Clive Davis, who discovered her talent and played a pivotal role in her career. “If you want to experience the greatest female contemporary voice of all time, you must see Whitney Houston’s South Africa Durban concert film and own the album. There will never be another Whitney Houston.”
Born into a musical family, Houston was destined for fame. The daughter of gospel legend Cissy Houston and cousin to Dionne Warwick, her official biography proclaimed that she possessed a voice that could move mountains. Her rendition of Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” remains the best-selling single by a female artist, and her impact on film with The Bodyguard soundtrack created a cultural phenomenon that endures today.
The 1994 concert was a significant event in South Africa, with Houston’s powerful vocals and dynamic presence resonating with a country in transition. Proceeds from the concerts benefited South African children’s charities, furthering Whitney’s commitment to social causes. The concert film now offers fans a chance to relive this significant moment in music history and experience Whitney’s unmatched talent in a new way.
Tickets for the screenings are on sale. “It was one of the greatest honors of my career to perform for such a beautiful and resilient country,” Whitney Houston once stated. “I felt like I was singing not just to the people of South Africa but to the world.”
