The African Mamas - Graceland The Concert

In 'Graceland The Concert'

The African Mamas let the audience relive the legendary concert, which Paul Simon was the initiator and conductor of. With their beautiful voices, deep emotions and indomitable vitality, they create a wonderful show that you will never forget.

Apartheid

It started in the early 1980s when Paul Simon accidentally got his hands on a cassette tape of 'Gumboots'. The driving Soweto sound of guitars, bass, drums and accordion reminded him of the exciting early years of rock 'n roll. Not long after, Paul Simon leaves for Johannesburg to record with the original artists, with the fantastic album Graceland as the ultimate end result.

The sensation about the (exciting) mix of American and South African pop music went hand in hand with the necessary political turbulence. The anti-apartheid movement was, to put it mildly, unhappy that Paul Simon broke South Africa's cultural boycott.

While many big stars continued to perform uncritically in Sun City, the decadent symbol of apartheid politics, Paul Simon became the target of criticism. Something he himself never understood. "But why were the musicians so happy with my arrival? We worked together, without regard to race or color," he said at the time.

'Graceland The Concert' ignores all criticism and commentary and is above all a musical experience; a sensation that has already introduced a large audience to the Soweto sound.