Sampa the Great: An Afro Future — CANCELLED

Overview

UPDATE: Friday, August 6, 2021 — In light of Greater Sydney's current COVID-19 situation, Vivid Sydney has been cancelled for 2021 and plans to go ahead next winter instead. For more information, visit the event's website. For more information about the status of COVID-19 in NSW, head to the NSW Health website.

Vivid is back and as part of this year's August edition, Sampa the Great will take to the Joan Sutherland Theatre at the Sydney Opera House for two shows on Sunday, August 8, premiering her new live show, An Afro Future. Sampa was set to premiere the show as part of Live at the Bowl in Melbourne, Summer in the Domain in Sydney and Womadelaide, however was forced to cancel due to border restrictions.

Attendees can expect songs from the Zambian-born musician's critically-acclaimed debut album The Return. Released in 2019, the album received universal praise on release, winning Best Hip Hop Release and Best Independent Release at the 2020 ARIA Awards, and being named the eighth best Australian debut album of all time by Double J.

Joining Sampa the Great as part of the show is Melbourne-based neo-soul singer Mwanjé and fellow Zambian-born artist KYE.

"Sampa The Great is coming back – it's time to breathe and dance again," said Sydney Opera House Head of Contemporary Music and Vivid LIVE Curator, Ben Marshall. Sampa's 2021 appearance will mark her return to the festival after supporting Hiatus Kaiyote in 2016 and performing as part of The Avalanches' Since I Left You Block Party back in 2017.

Top image: Lucian Coman