This was a celebration, one year after her death, of South Africa’s Miriam Makeba. Not only was she one of the continent’s great voices, but also a campaigner, addressing the UN against apartheid in 1963, and an all-round iconic figure: Mama Africa. Not surprisingly, because of Makeba and a stellar line-up of African artists, it was a sell-out with a huge queue for returns.

The concert was created by Angelique Kidjo — a vivacious live performer, originally from Benin — and one of today’s great voices of Africa.

Mama Africa: Miriam Makeba

As a child, she explained, people criticised her for wanting to sing, “but Makeba made me dream you can become whatever you want to become”.

Makeba was also the first pan-African artist — which, along with the fact that she spent several years in exile in Guinea, explains the strong West African line-up.

In a slick, well-produced show, each artist did a couple of songs before handing over to the next and duetting with them.

There was Sayon Bamba Camara from Guinea and Dobet Gnahoré from the Ivory Coast, both lithe and supple dancers as well as powerful vocalists.
There was Baaba Maal from Senegal and Vusi Mahlasela, the only South African, apart from the trio of backing singers.

The West Africans also indicate how Africa’s musical creativity has rather shifted from South to West. Kidjo got the whole hall to its feet for the closing Pata Pata — and then it shifted into the foyer for an after-show jam. Magnificent.