Love's Full Circle: African Love Songs Concert Celebrates Joy, Loss, and Resilience This Valentine's

JOHANNESBURG – This Valentine's Day, love gets the tribute it truly deserves. The Legacy of African Love Songs goes beyond romance to celebrate love in its fullest form – the joy of new love, the ache of separation, the resilience of those who waited, and the healing that comes full circle. On 14 February at the OR Tambo Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, Msaki, Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, and Brenda Mntambo will perform Africa's most iconic love songs alongside heartwarming stories from real people who have lived through every season of love.

The concert weaves together legendary songs like Lakutshon'ilanga, Malaika, Lizzy, and Mmalo We with audio-visual stories from South Africans who have experienced love's full journey. From the woman who watched the sun set during apartheid, waiting to see if her husband's hat would appear among the workers returning home – and when it didn't, searching from neighbors to hospitals to mortuaries – to stories of love that endured against all odds. These are narratives of love that remained whole even through separation, loss, and uncertainty.

"These songs have always carried more than romance – they hold our collective memory of love through every trial," says Sibusiso Victor Masondo, renowned Musical Director, composer, arranger, bassist, producer, and curator of the production. "In a country that needs so much healing, we're creating space to honor love in its full circle. The happiness, the heartbreak, the searching, the reunion – love endures through all seasons. That's what these classics have always been about, and that's what this evening will celebrate."

Through powerful audio-visual presentations, audience members will witness real love stories from people with lived experiences – stories that mirror the themes woven into Africa's greatest love songs. Some stories are heartwarming, others carry sadness, but all testify to love's endurance through tribulation and trial.

Msaki, whose ethereal voice has captivated audiences globally, brings her signature emotional depth to songs that have defined love across generations. Joining her is living legend Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, a multi-instrumentalist and musical genius whose decades-spanning career makes him one of the few artists who witnessed these classics being born. Gospel and Afro-soul powerhouse Brenda Mntambo completes the lineup, adding spiritual resonance to an evening of profound meaning.

Under Masondo's musical direction, the production features live Afro-jazz instrumentation, rich vocal harmonies, and intimate acoustic arrangements. Creative Blackground's stage design transforms the venue with warm lighting, African-inspired visuals, and an atmosphere that honors both heritage and the complexity of human connection.

For couples and individuals seeking something deeper this Valentine's Day, this concert offers more than entertainment – it's a collective act of remembering, honoring, and healing through the music that has carried South Africa through generations. It celebrates not just romantic love, but the fullness of love in all its forms: enduring, searching, hoping, and ultimately, complete.

The concert is part of the Legacy Tribute series, dedicated to preserving and celebrating African heritage through world-class productions that honor cultural icons while creating space for contemporary healing and connection.

EVENT DETAILS
Event: The Legacy of African Love Songs
Date: 14 February 2026
Venue: OR Tambo Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre
Headliners: Msaki, Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, Brenda Mntambo
Musical Director & Curator: Sibusiso Victor Masondo
Presented by: Legacy Tribute
Created by: Isondo Music
Designed by: Creative Blackground

TICKETS & BOOKING
Three ticket categories are available,
General Access: R950 per person
VIP: R1,200 per person
VVIP: R1,500 per person
Booking: WebTicket

EXCLUSIVE BENEFITS FOR TICKET HOLDERS:
• 10% discount on accommodation at Radisson OR Tambo
• 10% discount at Mangwanani Spa

For media accreditation, interviews, or high-resolution images - media@jtcomms.co.za or 011 788 7632 or 083 954 6133

Issued by JT Communication Solutions on Behalf of Isondo Music

Date: 14 February 2026
Time: 19:00 - 22:00
Venue: OR Tambo Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre, Johannesburg
Cost: R950-R1500

More info:

OR Tambo Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre