The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation and Primary Wave Music presented the 3rd Annual Gala, celebrating the 30th Anniversary of her historical visit to South Africa on Friday, August 9th, 2024, at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia, which also marks Whitney’s three historic post-apartheid visits and performances following Nelson Mandela’s historic election win as the then President of the new South Africa.
The event was hosted by Kevin Frazier of Entertainment Tonight and Pat Houston, president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, along with Jonathan Slocumb as MC.
Whitney was the first major recording artist to perform in the newly unified, post-apartheid nation. She performed at Kings Park Stadium in Durban (November 8, 1994), Ellis Park Stadium also known as Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg (November 12, 1994), which was filmed for the HBO Special, and the final performance was held at Green Point Stadium in Cape Town (November 19, 1994).
The gala opened with a video message from Honorary Chair and Chief Creative Officer Clive Davis of Sony Music Entertainment, who spoke about Whitney’s historic trip to South Africa’s thirty years ago during the beginning of the post-apartheid era with the then newly elected President Nelson Mandela. Davis also shared Whitney’s cultural significance and impact on the world of music and entertainment early in her career and her memorable performance of “Home,” by the then 19-year-old on The Merv Griffin show, 41 years ago.
With Musical Director, Kelvin Broughton, the gala’s performers included the unforgettable four-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Yolanda Adams, the incredibly gifted vocalist performed Richard Smallwood’s signature classic, “I Love The Lord,” which Whitney performed at each one of her concerts and “Home,” written by Broadway composer, the legendary Charlie Smalls, which is one of Adams’ favorite songs performed by Whitney. Both of Adams’ anointed performances received two standing ovations and left the audience wanting more. “Home” was also dedicated to South African’s special guest, Mirriam Solani Mazibuko, the director of the Orlando Children’s Home in Johannesburg, who was the representative of this year’s charity grant. Thirty years ago, Whitney extended a generous financial donation to them through her foundation.
A few months ago in June 2024, Pat Houston and key representatives of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation, along with board member Dr. Jacqueline Mohair, visited several places in Johannesburg that Whitney visited in 1994, including the Orlando Children’s Home in Soweto. While there, the foundation team spent time with the children and young adult residents, and they performed a song. Pat Houston also made the presentation to Mazibuko, who is the charity grant representative.
In return, Mazibuko and her daughter were invited to attend this year’s gala by Pat Houston. She and her daughter travelled to Atlanta and Mazibuko shared her story about the lifelong work and mission of the Orlando Children’s Home. She also shared memories of a young Whitney, and her beauty, her grace, her regalness, her extraordinary talent and her promise to return to the homeland. Mazibuko shared that Whitney promised her that she would return to South Africa.
Thirty years later, that promise was fulfilled, when Pat Houston and the foundation team returned to South Africa to visit Mazibuko and the young adults of the Orlando Children Home, not only to represent the foundation, but to also represent the Houston Family.
“Whitney would have wanted us to return to South Africa to represent her and commemorate this special time in history, says Pat Houston. “Whitney had many significant milestones and historic moments in her life and career, but her love for children, her love for South Africa and its people, and getting to know and spend valuable time with Nelson Mandela and his family meant everything to her. Nelson Mandela and that experience in South Africa changed and reshaped her life and furthered her commitment to continue her work with children and young adults. Whitney was a great example of the Bible scripture, Luke 12:48, ‘To whom much is given, much will be required.’”
Pat Houston concludes, “I know we made Whitney proud. We helped to serve the foundation’s mission and purpose in the global community. And the tree Whitney planted thirty years ago at the Nelson Mandela home, which is now named the Nelson Mandela Museum, is a reminder to us and a symbol to continue the work in her name and legacy.”
Whitney’s brother and longtime duet partner and background singer Gary Houston also performed a medley of Stevie Wonder’s classic songs, “Do I Do,” and “Love’s in Need of Love Today” and the finale performance of “We Can Touch The World” with Pat Houston and the Sauce background singers.
Additional performances included Gregory Sams and Denisia, the recent winners of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s Cover Song Competition. Sams performed “Miracle” and Denisia performed her New Orleans-styled reimagined version of “I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me).” Both received The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation 2024 Voice Awards.
The annual fundraiser also included scholarships for college students studying the arts at historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). This year’s recipients were Donovan McClain and Saniah Wharton of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
Sporting memorabilia from former pro ballers in the NBA and NFL included Dr. Julius Erving’s autographed basketball and Converse Sneakers, Magic Johnson’s signed basketball, Harvey Lee Armstrong and Marcus Allen’s signed NFL football, and Marcus Allen’s signed NFL football.
The lifestyle packages included Dr. Lincoln Alexander’s The Art of Cake, who specifically designed a cake to celebrate and commemorate Whitney Houston’s 61st birthday and provided gift boxes to talent, Morningbirds Restaurant’s gourmet five-course dinner for two, A Taste of South Africa package with special curated items, and a Naturopathica Gift basket.
In 2020, The Estate of Whitney E. Houston formed The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation to continue the mission and important work by the late global superstar, whose lifelong commitment to today’s youth through program initiatives and services that reflect the values and needs of our young people. The Foundation also serves as a source of empowerment to help rebuild, repair, and restore the self-esteem of our youth and assist them in living productive lives.
Whitney Houston’s global charitable work was initially established in 1989 as the Whitney Houston Foundation for Children, the organization provided much-needed resources to homeless children, build inner city parks and playgrounds, and provided college scholarships. Known for its world-renowned charitable initiatives and partnerships, the Foundation partnered with the Children’s Defense Fund, Childhood Diabetes, The Rain Forest Foundation, Hale House, Special Olympics, United Negro College Fund, St. Jude Children’s Research, and Whitney’s historic South Africa concerts, which a portion of the proceeds benefited local South African children’s charities.
In 1997, Houston’s elementary school was renamed The Whitney E. Houston Academy for Performing & Creative Arts. Originally opened in 1873, the Franklin School, is now the oldest building in the East Orange, New Jersey school district.