This festive season, Johannesburg music fans are in for a glorious gift as the Ndlovu Choir (previously known as the Ndlovu Youth Choir) premieres its new show, African Christmas.
It’s Christmas as you’ve never heard it, with the choir reimagining the world’s best-loved carols and setting them ablaze with soaring harmonies, pulsing African rhythms and electrifying dance. African Christmas will be staged at Emperors Palace from 11 to 13 December 2026, with tickets available from Webtickets.
11
Ndlovu Choir Brings Dezemba to Johannesburg
Beyond the songs, the show is alive with the warmth of the South African summer. Forget snow, sleigh bells and fireside chills. This is Dezemba: not a month, but a feeling. Dezemba means a party.
It’s sun-soaked, big-hearted and impossible to sit still through. Joyful, spine-tingling and utterly unforgettable, African Christmas is the must-see celebration of the season, so bring everyone you love.
This is music to be sung with a smile. Hop aboard for “Taxi Jingle Bells” and watch out for “Pasop, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”. In the title number, “African Christmas”, enjoy a reworked African interpretation of “White Christmas” that trades snow for sunshine and baobabs.
These tunes are joined by many more of the carols audiences know and love, each one reborn in the choir’s unmistakable style. Alongside those festive favourites, the choir also turns to the South African hits that soundtrack every summer.
Ndlovu Choir‘s Big Year Abroad
In August, the Ndlovu Choir enjoyed more international success with a hugely successful debut at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Performing A Celebration of Africa in the city’s famous Assembly Hall, the choir earned five-star reviews from The Scotsman, The List, One4Review, Edinburgh Festival and MiniTravellers.
Before returning home to celebrate, the choir also played triumphant shows in the Netherlands and London. Their final London show, on 28 September 2026, was an extraordinary one, as the Ndlovu Choir joined Roger Taylor, the legendary drummer of rock icons Queen, for the penultimate concert of his Violence Insane in a Beautiful World UK tour. The sold-out gig took place at the Roundhouse, a historic venue in a converted Victorian railway station in Camden.
The choir was invited to join Taylor onstage as he performed his songs “A Beautiful World” and “Come On Summer (It’s Party Time)”. They were then honoured with the chance to perform their isiZulu version of Queen‘s most famous hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody”, alongside Taylor and Queen guitarist Sir Brian May. Both English musicians authorised the commercial release of the Ndlovu Choir‘s interpretation after being sent a fully produced music video and asked for their blessing.
A Roger Taylor Collaboration and GRAMMY® Consideration
When the choir posted about the performance after the show, saying, “This was a dream come true!”, Taylor responded with his own message: “You were a joy! Thank you!” The relationship between the artists has already borne further fruit.
The studio version of “Come On Summer (It’s Party Time)”, the first single from Violence Insane in a Beautiful World and a track that prominently features the choir and their trademark vocals, has been entered for 2027 GRAMMY® Award consideration in the categories Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance.
“What a special year it has been so far, with successful concert runs, the incredible exhilaration of making our Edinburgh Fringe debut and getting to share the stage with members of Queen!” says Ralf Schmitt, the Ndlovu Choir‘s founder and conductor. “Working with Roger Taylor has been such a special experience for all of us, and something we’ll remember for a long time. Having our song entered for two GRAMMY® Awards is incredibly exciting, and we’re just so proud to be part of it. And now to be bringing African Christmas to Johannesburg, celebrating the holidays with audiences who have supported us from the start, and bringing some real energy to the festive season. Come and join us. It’s going to be a party!”
The Ndlovu Choir has long been known for dynamism, vocal brilliance and powerful storytelling. Their fusion of contemporary global music and proud African heritage has captivated millions, from huge television audiences for America’s Got Talent Season 14, on which they became the first choir to reach the finals, and America’s Got Talent: All-Stars, where they placed second, to international stages around the world.
Don’t miss African Christmas in the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, from Friday, 11 December to Sunday, 13 December 2026. Tickets are available from Webtickets.
Want to promote your business, event, product or service? We get more than 14,000 pageviews a month! Contact us for marketing and advertising options.
