South Africa’s favourite choir to give holiday favourites a unique spin
This festive season, Johannesburg music fans will get a glorious gift as the Ndlovu Choir, (previously known as Ndlovu Youth Choir) will premier their new show: “African Christmas”. It’s Christmas, as you’ve never heard it, with the Choir reimagining the world’s most-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. Tickets are available from Webtickets.
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 the warmth of a South African summer: 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. Bring everyone you love.
This will be music to be sung with a smile. Hop aboard for “Taxi Jingle Bells”. Watch out for “Pasop, Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”. And 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. And alongside those festive favourites, the choir also turns to the South African hits that soundtrack every summer.
In August this year, 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 received 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 in London. Their final London show, on 28 September 2026, was an extraordinary one as Ndlovu Choir joined Roger Taylor, the legendary drummer for rock icons Queen, for the penultimate concert of his Violence Insane in a Beautiful World UK tour. The sold-out gig took place in the Roundhouse, an historic venue situated in a converted Victorian railway station in Camden. Invited to join Taylor onstage as he performed his songs “A Beautiful World” and “Come On Summer (It’s Party Time)”, the Choir was then honoured with an opportunity 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 interpretation after they were sent a fully produced music video and were asked for their blessing.
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 excellent relationship between the artists has already borne further fruit, with the studio version of “Come On Summer (It’s Party Time)” – the first single from Violence Insane in a Beautiful World that prominently features the Choir and their trademark vocals – having been entered, in the categories Best Rock Song and Best Rock Performance, for 2027 GRAMMY® Award consideration.
“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, 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, in which they placed second, to international stages all around the world.
Don’t miss the Ndlovu Choir’s “African Christmas” in the Theatre of Marcellus at Emperor’s Palace in Johannesburg from Friday, 11 December to Sunday, 13 December 2026. Tickets are available from Webtickets.
NDLOVU CHOIR: AFRICAN CHRISTMAS 2026
JOHANNESBURG: Emperor’s Palace, Theatre of Marcellus, Friday, 11 December to Sunday, 13 December
SHOW DATES AND TIMES:
Saturday, 12 December 15:00
Saturday, 12 December 19:30
Sunday, 13 December 15:00
SHOW DURATION: 90 minutes excluding interval
TICKET PRICES: R350
BOOKING AGENT: Webtickets – webtickets.co.za
IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
No children under 3 years permitted
