The African Concert Series Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising
The African Concert Series marks the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising with Freedom Songs, a special day of music and events on Saturday 27 June 2026, at Wigmore Hall. The programme brings together leading artists including South African jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, making his Wigmore Hall debut, and double bass virtuoso Leon Bosch. The day […] The post The African Concert Series Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising appeared first on African Voice Newspaper.
Black News 
The African Concert Series marks the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising with Freedom Songs, a special day of music and events on Saturday 27 June 2026, at Wigmore Hall. The programme brings together leading artists including South African jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini, making his Wigmore Hall debut, and double bass virtuoso Leon Bosch.
The day commemorates the events of 16 June 1976, when Black South African students protesting against the imposition of Afrikaans in schools were met with police gunfire, sparking nationwide unrest and becoming a defining moment in the struggle against apartheid.
Freedom Songs has been put together by Nigerian-British pianist Rebeca Omordia, founder of the African Concert Series. Highlights include Mandela Tales (11.30am), a family-friendly programme of music and storytelling by composer Shirley J. Thompson, followed by a free African percussion workshop (12.30pm) led by percussionist Richard Olatunde Baker.
At 3pm, Nduduzo Makhathini – winner of the 2025 Deutscher Jazzpreis for International Live Act of the Year – makes his Wigmore Hall debut with Songs of Freedom. Widely regarded as one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary jazz, his work draws on Zulu spiritual and musical traditions.
The day culminates in an evening concert introduced by poet and activist Eugene Skeef, with Leon Bosch and the Ubuntu Ensemble. The programme centres on Shane Woodborne’s Red Ink (2019), a concerto for double bass and string orchestra performed in memory of the Soweto Uprising.
Rebeca Omordia, Founder of the African Concert Series, said: “My work centres on expanding our understanding of classical music – not as a fixed tradition, but as a dynamic, global art form. As we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, I am deeply honoured to work with Wigmore Hall on the 8th season of the African Concert Series. On 27 June, we will celebrate South African music and culture with performances including world-class jazz, orchestral works, and a family-friendly concert. This day of music highlights the resilience and spirit of South Africa’s people, and reflects the power of art to bridge cultures and inspire global dialogue.”
John Gilhooly CBE, Director of Wigmore Hall, said: “The African Concert Series has become a vital part of Wigmore Hall’s artistic life, and Freedom Songs is among its most significant undertakings. Through music, poetry and storytelling, the day reflects on a pivotal moment in history and the artists whose work keeps its legacy alive.”
The Soweto Uprising of 1976 drew global attention to apartheid after police opened fire on student demonstrators, intensifying international opposition and becoming a key turning point in South Africa’s liberation movement.
Kindly follow us on twitter:@AfricanVoice2
The post The African Concert Series Marks the 50th Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising appeared first on African Voice Newspaper.
.jpg?width=1200&auto=webp&crop=3:2#)
-Mark-Senior.jpeg?width=1200&auto=webp&crop=3:2#)
