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. Additionally, a 1987 TV broadcast of the Harare, Zimbabwe performance is available for free streaming and archival download on the Internet Archive About the Concert Filmed at the Rufaro Stadium in Harare, Zimbabwe
For years, the concert film existed primarily on VHS, laserdisc, and DVD, becoming a cherished item for collectors. Its status was cemented in 2012 when Legacy Recordings released the Graceland 25th Anniversary Edition , which notably included the full African Concert on DVD. This deluxe collector’s edition box set (2 CD/2 DVD) also featured Joe Berlinger’s documentary Under African Skies , which further examined the album’s creation and controversy, along with bonus features, an 80-page book, a poster, and handwritten lyric sheets.
The concert was originally released on VHS/Laserdisc and later on DVD in 1999. It was also included as a bonus DVD in the Graceland 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Box Set released in 2012. Free Streaming Options:
The concert was a marriage of American folk-rock and South African mbube , mbaqanga , and township jive . It featured:
The performance was an overwhelming success. The music magazine People gave it an “A+” rating, calling it “just plain great” and praising Simon for “generously” sharing his stage with the South African musicians. Modern viewers on IMDb have called it “spellbinding, brilliant,” noting that “the music is first class, the singing tremendous”.
Reliving the Magic: Paul Simon’s "Graceland: The African Concert"