John Legend to play Harry Belafonte in Hugh Masekela drama ‘The Road Home’
TheGrio...
The film examines South African music, apartheid and the controversy surrounding Paul Simon’s “Graceland.”
John Legend will portray Harry Belafonte in “The Road Home,” a music drama centered on South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela and the cultural battle surrounding Paul Simon’s “Graceland.” The role connects the EGOT winner to an activist he publicly honored after Belafonte’s death and joined at the Many Rivers to Cross social justice festival.
People reported that the Bill Condon-directed film is currently shooting in South Africa. Thabo Rametsi stars as Masekela, Cynthia Erivo plays Miriam Makeba, Johnny Flynn portrays Simon and Guy Pearce appears as Archbishop Trevor Huddleston, a leading anti-apartheid campaigner.
The film is not a traditional Belafonte biopic. Its story is told through Masekela’s perspective and examines the political tensions surrounding “Graceland,” which Simon recorded with South African musicians during apartheid.
The album became a global success but drew criticism from anti-apartheid activists who said Simon had violated the United Nations cultural boycott of South Africa. “The Road Home” will place that dispute alongside the music and relationships linking Masekela, Makeba, Simon, Huddleston and Belafonte.
Belafonte supported Masekela while the trumpeter lived in exile and became one of America’s most prominent voices against apartheid. He also helped launch the humanitarian project that became “We Are the World,” which included Simon among its performers and Quincy Jones as producer.
Legend said he knew Belafonte as a friend, mentor and collaborator in the struggle for justice. He called the late entertainer an artist and activist whose life established a standard for performers using their platforms to confront injustice.
Portraying Belafonte carries a personal connection for Legend. He participated in Belafonte’s 2016 Many Rivers to Cross festival, which brought artists and organizers together around social justice, and later praised Belafonte for funding civil rights work and embedding protest messages in his art.
Michael Bronner wrote the screenplay. “Graceland” producer Hilton Rosenthal is involved with the production and will oversee new recordings of music associated with Masekela, Makeba and Simon.
Belafonte died in April 2023 at 96. Masekela died in 2018 at 78 after a career that made him one of South Africa’s most celebrated musicians and cultural figures.
“The Road Home” does not yet have an announced release date.