Ndlala Arena in Pretoria is set to close out the year in grand style with the launch of Ndlala Grandeur Season 1, a four-night R&B showcase taking place from 16 to 19 December 2026.
American Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and television personality Tamar Braxton will headline the opening night, bringing her acclaimed R&B catalogue and television presence to the South African stage.
Adding international star power to the opening weekend is American actor Ricco Ross, who will serve as the red carpet and show co-host on 16 and 17 December. The visit will mark Ross’s first trip to South Africa.
“Ndlala Grandeur Season 1 promises to be one of the best events that will remain in people’s memories for a lifetime, and it is not to be missed,” said Thami Ndlala, CEO of Ndlala Arena.
“We have built this season to be the biggest celebration yet of the artistry, culture, and unforgettable nights that Ndlala Grandeur is known for.”
Tamar Braxton brings R&B legacy to Pretoria
Braxton has been a prominent figure in R&B for decades, first entering the music industry in 1990 as a founding member of The Braxtons, the vocal group she formed with her sisters.
She later launched her solo career and released her self-titled debut album in 2000 through DreamWorks Records. Her career reached another major milestone with her 2013 album Love and War, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200.
The album earned three Grammy nominations, contributing to four Grammy nominations Braxton has received throughout her career. She has also won a BET Award and three Soul Train Music Awards.
Her career has extended well beyond music. Braxton became a household name through We TV’s Braxton Family Values, which ran from 2011 to 2020, and was a co-host of the syndicated daytime talk show The Real from 2013 to 2016.
She received two Daytime Emmy nominations for her work on the programme and later won the second season of Celebrity Big Brother in 2019.
Braxton has continued working across music, television and film, including her podcast Under Construction w/ Tamar Braxton, which received a NAACP Image Award nomination. She most recently appeared in Heartbreak Retrograde in 2025.
Ricco Ross brings Hollywood experience
Ross brings a similarly extensive entertainment career to the event, with a body of work spanning film, television and theatre over four decades.
International audiences will recognise him from his role as Private Frost in James Cameron’s 1986 science fiction classic Aliens. He subsequently trained as a classical Shakespearean actor at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art in England.
His credits include Mission: Impossible, Highlander, Babylon 5, Beverly Hills, 90210, The Practice, JAG, ER and P-Valley, among numerous other productions.
Ross currently stars as Horace Bellarie, patriarch of the Bellarie family, in Tyler Perry’s Netflix drama Beauty in Black.
The series became a major international success, spending seven weeks in Netflix’s Global Top 10 and reaching number one in 28 countries during its second week.
Ross has also worked as a writer and producer and has recently completed projects including the upcoming films A Man’s Promise and A Lover’s Vow.
Ndlala Grandeur promises an elevated experience
Ndlala Arena has positioned itself as an intimate live entertainment destination focused on premium R&B performances, combining live music with an upscale hospitality experience.
The venue offers theatre-style seating, high-quality sound, exclusive beverages and food prepared by top chefs.
Following two previous editions of Ndlala Grandeur, the first official season is expected to expand the concept into four consecutive nights featuring live performances, celebrity appearances, red carpet moments and exclusive experiences.
