The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation’s Annual Gala Celebrates the Singer’s Historic 1994 Visit to South Africa

The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation and Primary Wave Music presented their 3rd Annual Legacy Foundation's South Africa One Gala , commemorating the 30th anniversary of the legendary singer's visit to South Africa. Held at the St. Regis Hotel in Atlanta, the event marked Houston's three historic post-apartheid visits and performances in 1994.

Entertainment Tonight host Kevin Frazier and Pat Houston, president of the Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation , hosted the event, and Altanta-based comedic actor Jonathan Slocumb served as MC. Celebrity guests like Dionne Warwick and CeeLo Green were on hand to celebrate what would have been Houston's 61st birthday.

Honorary Chair and Chief Creative Officer Clive Davis of Sony Music Entertainment opened the gala with a video message about Whitney’s historic trip to South Africa with 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, as well as her memorable performance of “Home” by the then-19-year-old singer on The Merv Griffin Show 41 years ago.

Whitney was the first major recording artist to perform in the newly unified, post-apartheid nation. She appeared at Kings Park Stadium in Durban, Ellis Park Stadium (also known as Emirates Airline Park) in Johannesburg and Green Point Stadium in Cape Town. At that time, Houston made a generous financial donation through her foundation to the Orlando Children’s Home in South Africa.

Along with the gala's musical director Kelvin Broughton, four-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist Yolanda Adams performed “I Love The Lord” and “Home," which was dedicated to Mirriam Solani Mazibuko, the director of the Orlando Children’s Home in South Africa, who was the representative of this year’s charity grant.

Mazibuko and her daughter attended this year’s gala, where Mazibuko shared her lifelong mission and memories of a young Whitney: her beauty, grace, extraordinary talent and promise to return to the homeland. Pat and key representatives of The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation had the opportunity this past June to visit places Whitney visited in South Africa in 1994, including the Orlando Children’s Home.

“Whitney would have wanted us to return to South Africa to represent her and commemorate this special time in history, Pat shared. “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."

Pat concluded, “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 30 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, longtime duet partner and background singer Gary Houston also performed a medley of Stevie Wonder’s classic songs, including the finale performance of “We Can Touch The World” with Pat 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.

The annual fundraiser included scholarships for college students studying the arts at Historically Black Colleges and Universities. This year’s recipients were Donovan McClain and Saniah Wharton of Morgan State University in Baltimore. The gala also featured a silent and online auction, with items still available online at Charity Buzz.

In 2020, The Estate of Whitney E. Houston formed The Whitney E. Houston Legacy Foundation to continue the mission and important work of the late global superstar, whose lifelong commitment to today’s youth through program initiatives and services that reflect the values and needs of youth. 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. In 1997, Houston’s elementary school was renamed The Whitney E. Houston Academy for Performing & Creative Arts. Opened in 1873 as the Franklin School, it is now the oldest building in the East Orange, New Jersey school district.