SA: Joyous Celebration to stage first virtual show

The announcement follows a period of uncertainty amid the COVID-19 lockdown since March. The group will perform songs from its 2020 album The Rock via YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.

“We are excited to return to the stage, and more importantly to announce to our fans that we are back,” Joyous Celebration co-founder Lindelani Mkhize said. “The COVID-19 pandemic delayed us in offering our fans the normal spectacular and extravaganza we stage annually at their doorsteps with a nationwide tour.

“The benefit of streaming the concert live is that we can connect with the broader Joyous family across the globe at the same time. Whether you’re in Johannesburg, London, Lagos, Nairobi or the US, we hope our fans will buy tickets to the show. We have dusted our costumes, and our talented cast is ready to dazzle the audiences from far and wide.”

Joyous Celebration co-founder Jabu Hlongwane added: “COVID-19 literally brought the world to its knees in 2020, resulting in widespread suffering in the past nine months. We have seen our neighbours and loved ones perish, people lose their livelihoods, and it was tough for us not to be physically able to be a shoulder to lean on and an outlet for comfort and reassurance.

“We have returned, even more determined to soothe and heal those who still need their spirits lifted. The gathering may be different, as the current status quo still restricts us, but the experience is a guaranteed phenomenon. We are starting to make up for lost time and strongly believe that sooner rather than later we will also have the opportunity to be physically together.”

Joyous Celebration was formed in 1996 by Hlongwane, Mkhize and Mthunzi Namba to celebrate the peaceful transition to democracy. It has become arguably the most successful gospel group in South Africa and has won numerous South African Music Awards. To date, the band has released 24 albums and sold more than 3 million CDs and DVDs.

Fans can buy tickets at Computicket as well as Shoprite and Checkers stores across South Africa. Find more about the event here.