| Main Performers | Paul Simon - vocal, guitar |
| Secondary Performers | Miriam Makeba - vocal,
Hugh Masekela - trumpet |
| Orchestra or Band | Ladysmith Black Mambazo
The Band (Ray Phiri, John B L Selolwane - guitars, Bakithi Kumalo - bass, Isaac Mtshali - drums, Francis M Fuster, Asante - percussion, Tony Cedras - keyboards, accordion, Mike Rose, Barney Rachabane - saxophones, pennywhistle, Nobambo Fazerkerley, Nomsa Calusa, Sonti Mndebele - vocals) |
| Set List | 'Township Jive'
'The Boy in the Bubble',
'Gumboots', 'Whispering Bells',
'Bring Him Back Home', H Masekela,
'Brinca de Vivre', 'Crazy Love Vol II', 'I Know What I Know',
'Nomathemba', Ladysmith Black Mambazo,
'Yibo Labo',
'Homeless',
'Graceland',
'You Can Call Me Al',
'Stimela', H Masekela,
'Jikel Maweni',
'Soweto Blues',
'Amampondo', M Makeba,
'Under African Skies',
'Mother and Child Reunion',
'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes',
'The Boxer', Simon and Garfunkel,
'Amazing Grace', 'Reveal Yourself',
'Zeni Sena',
'O Kuma',
'N'kosi Sikelele Africa' (banned African National Congress Anthem) |
| Performance Notes | Original photographs of the event are held by Mirrorpix.
There were some protests at the Hall due to Paul Simon's collaboration with black South African musicians on his Graceland album. The concerts were during the apartheid era in South Africa and the protests centred on Simon's breaking the cultural boycott by bringing black South African musicians to appear at these concerts as part of his The Graceland Tour.
"TOWNSHIP JIVE IN SW7.
The first of Paul Simon's six "Graceland" concerts at the Royal Albert Hall attracted ticket touts, demonstrators, policemen and television people in roughly equal numbers (about 20 of each). The demonstrators handed out leaflets, optimistically urging us to boycott the show and giving an address in Mandela Strett NW1. The Paul Simon Appreciation Society of Kendal, Cumbria, responded with counter-leaflets and stickers. A letter was said to have been handed in at the stage door in which the Labour-voting British singers Paul Weller, Billy Bragg and Jerry Dammers called on Simon to apologise for breaking the United Nations' cultural boycott of South Africa. "
(The Daily Telegraph, 9 April 1987)
"...when the Graceland Tour arrived at London's Albert Hall on Tuesday, Simon was met by Jerry Dammers of the campaigning multi-racial group, The Specials.Dammers handed him a letter signed by Paul Weller, Billy Bragg and other members of the Anti-Apartheid Movement demanding a 'public apology to the UN General Assembly' and 'an assurance that you will not breach these boycotts again.' Outside the hall leaflets were distributed inviting concert-goers to 'think long and hard.' 'You might like the music but there are more imprtant issues.
Simon has refused to reply.The spectacle of a group of white people picketing a concert starring the black South African exiles Hugh Masekala and Miriam Makena, two of the staunchest opponents of apartheid, seemed sufficient."
(The Daily Telegraph, 12 April 1987) |
| Related Archival Material | Programme (RAHE/1/1987/33),
Digital Photographs |