Alongside the largest exhibition of contemporary African art ever seen in Europe, at the Hayward Gallery from February to April 2005, is an extensive programme of music, literature and performance across the other South Bank Centre venues, the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room.

With most of the programme now confirmed for the performing arts strand of AFRICA REMIX, a dazzling array of top name acts bring together hip hop, soukous, Juju blues, afro-beat, jazz and gospel. Show-stopping highlights include King Sunny Ade, Koffi Olomide, MC Solaar, Ty, Baaba Maal, Dizzee Rascal and Teofilo Chantre.

Specially commissioned for AFRICA REMIX, master musician Baaba Maal will perform a new composition inspired by the Hayward Gallery exhibition, collaborating with video artist Yeast, backed by a full band and Senagalese dancers.

One of Africa's greatest stars of the last 10 years, Congolese artist Koffi Olomide showcases his Soukous -- a deep fusion of funk and reggae driven by a rhythm to rock your soul.

Rapper MC Solaar's distinctive mix of powerful lyrics and inventive rhymes has made him a major star in Europe with CD sales on a par with American rap stars.

In a special night of pan-African performance, South African composer and jazz trumpeter Claude Deppa will play alongside divas from Uganda, Ghana and Nigeria. Deppa is currently at the forefront of African jazz producing a spectacular fusion of infectious African rhythms and jazz solos with blazing horns and a thumping base line.

Amongst the women taking part in AFRICA REMIX, the South Bank Centre proudly present South Africa's biggest female solo singer, Yvonne Chaka Chaka. More female talent is showcased with the funky sounds of Uganda's Rachel Magoola whose dance floor smash has Africans dancing in a new way.

Blues is provided by Teofilo Chantre, the guitarist and songwriter for Cesario Evora. Chantre has taken Cape Verde's traditional morna ballad and added R&B and funk to create a truly irresistible sound. The show is supported by R&B from Togo's Amy Coco.

Legendary 1960s blues musician Boubacar Traore was for many years a star in his home of Mali. But after personal tragedy Traore disappeared from the music scene and was thought to have died. Here, in his first London concert, he performs his spellbinding 'songs of sorrow' - a powerful, intimate and moving acoustic sound.

Another RFH highlight is Britain's own Dizzee Rascal, here supported by legendary African drummer Tony Allen, renowned for fusing the electronic into Africa-beat. The concert is also a major highlight of SBC's Ether festival.

The music component of AFRICA REMIX comes to a close with a gala concert by Nigeria's King Sunny Ade. World music's first superstar, after 40 years at the top he is not just a name but a phenomenon.

Throughout most of AFRICA REMIX from 7 Mar - 10 April, the RFH Ballroom is transformed into a vibrant and colourful lounge-style venue, with a contemporary African feel designed by Hassan Hajjaj.

AFRICA REMIX Listings Information Box Office: 08703 808 300 www.africaremix.org.uk

February - April 2005. Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Purcell Room

• Laye Sow Thu 10 Feb & Sat 12 Feb RFH Foyer 12.30pm. Free
• Seckou Keita Fri 11 Feb RFH Foyer 12.30pm. Free
• Abdelkader Saadoun Sun 13 Feb RFH Foyer 12.30pm. Free
• In Celebration of Romance Mon 14 Feb QEH 7.45pm.Tickets from £15
• Khartoum Blues from Abdel Gadir Salim Fri 18 Feb QEH 7.45pm. £17.50
• Lambeth Schools Music Festival Mon 7 Mar RFH 7pm. Tickets free, subject to availability
• MC Solaar +Ty Tues 8 Mar RFH 7.30pm. £22.50-£18.50
• Claude Deppa & African Divas + JJC and 419 Squad Thurs 10 Mar QEH 7.45pm. £20-£15
• Salon Afrique Live Sat 12 Mar BF 12.30pm onwards. Free
• Abdul Raheem Sat 12 Mar PR 8pm. £12.50
• An Audience with Lucky Ranku Sun 13 Mar CR 8pm. £7.50
• Dizzee Rascal + Tony Allen Tues 15 Mar RFH 7.30pm. £20-£17.50 Also part of Ether 2005
• Teofilo Chantre + Ammy Coco Wed 16 March QEH 7.45pm. £20-£15
• Helon Habila and Binyavanga Wainaina Thur 17 Mar VB 7.30pm. £6 concs £4
• Boubacar Traore + Netsayi Chigwendere Fri 18 Mar QEH 7.45pm. £20-£15
• Salon Afrique Live Sat 19 Mar BF 12.30pm onwards. Free
• Yvonne Chaka Chaka + Modeste Hughes Sun 20 Mar QEH 7.45pm. £22.50-£17.50
• Brian Chikwava and Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor Tue 22 Mar VB 7.30pm. £6 concs £4
• Diya Ojo Wed 23 Mar PR 8pm. £12.50
• Rennie Harris' Legends of Hip Hop Fri 25-Wed 30 Mar 7.45pm (plus 27 & 28 Mar 2pm) QEH £22- £11
• Salon Afrique Live Sat 26 Mar BF 12.30pm onwards. Free
• In Celebration of My Sisters Sat 26 Mar RFH 7.30pm. Tickets from £19.50
• African Guitar Masters Sun 27 Mar PR 3pm. £12.50
• Rachel Magoola Sun 27 Mar PR 8pm. £12.50
• Koffi Olomide + The Queens of Lagos Weds 30 Mar RFH 7.30pm. £25-£15
• Baaba Maal Fri 1 Apr RFH 7.30.Tickets £25 - £10
• Jean Hatzfeld and Delia Jarrett Macauley Tue 5 April VB 7.30pm. £6 concs £4
• Patience Agbabi, Kwame Dawes, Jackie Kay & Jack Mapanje Thu 7 Apr PR 7.30pm. £6 concs £4
• Orishas Fri 8 Apr RFH 7.30pm. £19-£14
• King Sunny Ade Sat 16 Apr RFH 8.30pm. £30-£20

--RFH = Royal Festival Hall; QEH = Queen Elizabeth Hall; PR = Purcell Room; CR = Chelsfield Room (Level 5, RFH); VB = Voice Box (Level 5, RFH); BF = Ballroom Floor (Level 2 RFH)--