Proms 2026
5 Aug 2026, Royal Albert Hall
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22:15 Wed 5 Aug 2026 Next Event

Proms 2026 Under African Skies: The Songs of ‘Graceland’

Prom 26
Under African Skies: The Songs of ‘Graceland’
22:15 Wed 5 Aug 2026 Royal Albert Hall
South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo make their Proms debut 50 years on from the Soweto Uprising and 40 years since the release of Paul Simon’s era-defining album Graceland, which brought the group to international attention
South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo make their Proms debut 50 years on from the Soweto Uprising and 40 years since the release of Paul Simon’s era-defining album Graceland, which brought the group to international attention

Under African Skies: The Songs of ‘Graceland’

Celebrate the 40th anniversary of Graceland – Paul Simon’s Grammy Award-winning, era-defining album, in a concert featuring Simon’s original collaborators Ladysmith Black Mambazo (making its Royal Albert Hall Proms debut) and special guest artists. Defying Apartheid-era restrictions, Graceland not only featured Black South African musicians but also introduced global audiences to the country’s music. Forty years on we trace the album’s influences and echoes.

Recorded for broadcast on BBC TV and iPlayer

Ladysmith Black Mambazo © Ladysmith Black Mambazo