40 Years of Paul Simon's Graceland: Performed by The London African Gospel Choir

40 Years of Paul Simon’s Graceland: Performed by The London African Gospel Choir

In the wake of Graceland’s 30th anniversary, Camden’s Jazz Café commissioned the London African Gospel Choir to perform the album in its entirety for one night only. Tickets sold out within hours and so five more nights were added, and they all sold out as well, confirming the enduring appeal of Paul Simon’s masterpiece, and also the growing excitement generated by the Choir’s string of notable stage and television appearances – some of them shared with stars like Emile Sande, Mumford & Sons, Tom Jones and the Soweto Gospel Choir, with whom they made a triumphant appearance at London’s 02 Arena, singing in front of 17,000 people. Annie Lennox had invited them to perform at a number of prestigious events, including the MIT Awards. They’d also worked with actor/director Idris Elba, star of Mandela: Long Road To Freedom, who recruited them for an album celebrating South African music, recorded in tribute to Nelson Mandela.

The Choir has featured South African singers and dancers since its inception, and already had songs from there in its repertoire before the Jazz Café came calling. They refer to the Graceland project as “a Godsend.” It was an opportunity for their collective talents to shine and they spent weeks learning the songs, perfecting the dance moves and putting a sparkle into their performances that’s moved many onlookers to tears. “People have wept for joy after seeing it,” ,” says founder and director Crystal Kassi. “They come out of the shows with Graceland in their ears, their hearts and their dreams.”

“What makes us different is that we all come from different countries in the African Diaspora,” she explains. “We have people from South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Kenya, Zaire, Ivory Coast, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Uganda and the Congo… We all come from different churches as well. The common denominator is our faith, although we welcome everybody.”