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The Ndlovu Youth Choir performed their isiZulu version of Bohemian Rhapsody with Queen legends Brian May and Roger Taylor at London's Roundhouse. The collaboration, which began with the choir's unique translation of the anthem, culminated in a sold-out show where the choir joined Taylor's tour, receiving widespread acclaim for merging genres and impressing the rock icons.
It has been just six days since the Ndlovu Youth Choir took part in a historic musical crossover in London, performing their isiZulu version of Bohemian Rhapsody on stage with Queen guitarist Sir Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor.
Speaking from his home village in Limpopo this week, choir team leader Sandile Majola said: "It was a mind-blowing experience that's hard to describe. One minute you have Roger Taylor wanting a selfie with you, and you're watching Brian May on his guitar as you sing along to Radio Ga Ga .
Ndlovu Choir's Historic Crossover
Next thing I'm back home, it's hot, and I'm looking at some goats while I talk to the Sunday Times.
" Majola was among the 12 choir members who performed on Monday night at the legendary Roundhouse in London as part of Taylor's Violence Insane in a Beautiful World tour. That performance was the culmination of a series of events set in motion last year when the choir reimagined Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody , weaving Zulu clicks and whistles into the arrangement. The result was a version in which only the iconic cry of "Galileo! Galileo!
" remained in the original English. The choir's artistic director, Ralf Schmitt, said he had initially approached music company Sony with the arrangement, but they turned him down, telling him to redo the piece in English. Undeterred, Schmitt pressed forward and approached May, Taylor and the Mercury Phoenix Trust directly. They all loved the new version and gave it their official blessing.
Queen Collaboration Comes to London
The result, released last year, was the first legally authorised translation of Queen's iconic rock anthem to be commercially released. Then, early this year, Taylor approached Schmitt with the idea of collaborating with the choir on two songs for his new album. They began working together - Taylor with his band recording in England and the choir recording their parts in South Africa.
While the choir was on a recent sold-out tour in the Netherlands , Taylor contacted them with an invitation to perform with him in London.
"It was a brilliant opportunity that came just as we were finishing our Netherlands tour. We were in Europe, and everybody still had visas after performing at the Edinburgh Fringe festival. I had to return home and was very sad to say goodbye to the team as they hopped on the Eurostar," Schmitt said. The choir arrived in London and went straight to rehearsals.
"We already knew the songs, but it was so strange to finally meet Roger in real life. He was amazing and asked to have selfies with us," said Majola.
A Sold-Out London Triumph
"We did a run-through, and Roger asked us to stay for a bit. Next thing, Brian shows up. Yoh! And I'm just thinking, 'Now things are serious.
' And he's walking up and saying, 'I love you guys. I'm a huge fan and I follow all your videos.
' Can you imagine? " Monday's concert was sold out, and the choir's surprise appearance was a huge hit. Queen's official media channels described the night as "a real kind of magic", while Taylor responded to the praise on social media by thanking London and the choir.
"We did have a lot of fun! Until next time," he wrote. Entertainment journalists highlighted the visual scale and emotional impact of the performance. The Times' critic wrote, "This unlikely mash-up of genres and generations proved to be an unexpected delight, transforming Taylor's uneven hobby-band project into a joyously eclectic celebration.
" Fans and online reviewers flooded social media with praise, calling the collaboration a "legendary night to remember" and describing it as the "best concert seen in a long time".
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