Featuring:
Hugh Masekela
Angelique Kidjo
Bassekou Kouyate
Royal Albert Hall
Wednesday 26 November, 7.30pm
Tickets: £15 - £35 www.royalalberthall.com  / 020 7589 8212
VSO celebrates its 50th Anniversary with a fabulous concert at the Royal Albert
Hall in November.

Headlined by Hugh Masekela, the legendary South African trumpeter, singer and world-jazz star, Stars Of Africa celebrates the vibrant musical traditions of the continent where VSO started its work 50 years ago. Famed for his beautiful, soulful trumpet playing and heartfelt music, Masekela’s career dates back to the mid-fifties and his music portrays the struggles and joys of South Africa making him a genuine international star.

Sharing the bill with Masekela are the hugely charismatic Beninese singer Angelique Kidjo, whose vibrant funk, reggae and pop influenced music makes her one of global music’s biggest stars and saw her hailed by Time Out “as contemporary, stylish and vibrant as it comes”. And celebrating the rich musical traditions of West Africa is Malian ngoni (African lute) virtuoso Bassekou Kouyate, whose haunting mix of African blues and ethereal beauty saw him win two awards at this year’s BBC Radio 3 Awards For World Music. Masekela and Kidjo will perform full sets with their renowned backing bands while Kouyate, described by The Guardian as Africa’s answer to Hendrix will perform in a very special acoustic duet with his wife, singer Ami Sacko.

VSO - which since 1958 has sent over 32,000 volunteers to work alongside its partners overseas - remains a strong and important presence in Africa today.

Stars Of Africa is supported by the StratREAL Foundation and produced by Serious. Funds raised through the concert will support VSO’s education programmes in Africa.

Further information on VSO’s 50th Anniversary and the organisation’s history can be found at http://50th.vso.org.uk/  

For further information, images or to arrange an interview please contact Kerstan Mackness on 020 7193 0815 kerstan@riotsquadpublicity.com  

Produced by Serious. For more information contact Sorcha Hunter 0207 324 1880 sorcha@serious.org.uk