Red Bull Symphonic delivered its most ambitious South African production to date, bringing together two of the country’s biggest dance music innovators for a historic performance that celebrated the roots, evolution and future of Afro house.
For the first time in the global history of Red Bull Symphonic, two headline artists shared the stage as house music pioneer Sun-El Musician and Durban-born producer Dlala Thukzin united for Afro House, Our Home, a spectacular collaboration reimagined by Maestro Chad Hendricks and a full symphonic orchestra.
The groundbreaking production paid tribute to house music as the foundation of South Africa’s contemporary dance music culture, acknowledging the genre’s influence on kwaito, gqom, amapiano and the emerging 3-step movement. By blending Sun-El Musician’s soulful, melody-driven sound with Dlala Thukzin’s high-energy gqom rhythms, the performance bridged generations while showcasing two artists who continue to shape the country’s musical identity.
The sold-out event reached an even wider audience through a live broadcast on SABC 1 and simultaneous streaming on SABC Plus, making it the first Red Bull Symphonic production anywhere in the world to air live on a national external broadcaster. The broadcast transformed what was already one of the year’s most sought-after live music experiences into a shared national celebration for millions of viewers.
The evening featured an impressive lineup of guest performers, each adding a unique dimension to the orchestral reinterpretations. Babes Wodumo delivered one of the night’s standout moments in one of her first major stage appearances in recent years, receiving an enthusiastic reception from the audience. Simmy brought elegance and emotion with her orchestral rendition of the hit song Sonini, while performances from Babalwa M, Mavhungu, Mnqobi Yazo, Mlindo The Vocalist, Zee Nxumalo, Sai Hle, Thatohatsi, Mthunzi, Sykes, Zaba, Blaq Seed, Msaki and Zeh McGeba further elevated the production.
Adding another layer to the performance were the Vocal Hue Choir and the Blackville Choir, whose members were selected through an open national call. Their harmonies complemented the orchestra while reinforcing the production’s distinctly South African identity. Staged beneath the Johannesburg night sky at the Montecasino Outdoor Arena, the performance seamlessly blended orchestral arrangements with electronic production, creating an immersive musical experience that resonated throughout the venue.
Reflecting on the collaboration, Sun-El Musician said hearing familiar songs transformed through orchestral arrangements revealed new emotional depth within the music.
“Hearing music that people already know and love in a symphonic setting was beautiful as it allowed us to hear every emotion, every melody and every layer differently. It was also exciting to share that experience with Dlala Thukzin because, although we come from different spaces musically, we both have a deep respect for our craft and for South African music.”
Dlala Thukzin described the production as a career-defining moment and celebrated the opportunity to bring gqom into a symphonic setting.
“Never did I ever think we would hear gqom through an orchestra, but we did it. Working with Sun-El Musician was beyond exceptional. We brought KZN onto that stage and the minds of two creatives together. It was magical.”
For Maestro Chad Hendricks, who conducted and arranged the performance, the production represented one of the defining moments of his career.
“Having to work on this was one of the biggest highlights of my career. Bridging two sonic worlds and conducting the arrangements live was definitely one for the books.”
Over the years, Red Bull Symphonic has established itself as one of South Africa’s most innovative live music platforms, pairing contemporary artists with full orchestras to reinterpret their music in entirely new ways. This latest edition not only expanded the format by featuring two headline acts but also reinforced the cultural significance of South African dance music on one of the country’s biggest stages.
By celebrating Afro house as both a musical foundation and an evolving movement, Afro House, Our Home demonstrated how orchestral performance and contemporary dance music can coexist while honouring the country’s rich musical heritage. As the final notes echoed across Montecasino and into homes around South Africa, the production cemented its place as one of the most memorable chapters in Red Bull Symphonic’s global story.
