Koanga is an opera written between 1896 and 1897, with music by Frederick Delius and a libretto by Charles Francis Keary, inspired partly by the book The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life by George Washington Cable (1880).

It was Delius's third opera, and he thought better of it than of its predecessors, Irmelin and The Magic Fountain, because of the incorporation of dance scenes and his treatment of the choruses.

[1] Koanga is reputed to be the first opera in the European tradition to base much of its melodic material on African-American music.

[3] Selections from the opera were performed in London on 30 May 1899 at St James's Hall, in a concert of his own music organised by Delius.

[8] In 1958 Stanford Robinson directed the BBC Chorus & Orchestra with Lawrence Winters (Koanga) and Leonora Lafayette (Palmyra).

[10][11] A revival in 1972 for the Camden Festival at Sadler's Wells Theatre, London, was conducted by Sir Charles Groves.

Douglas Craig and Andrew Page had worked extensively on revisions to a performing edition, which was used for the first complete commercial recording, conducted by Groves.

A dark grandeur pervades the score which, whilst yielding to hankerings after Wagner, recalls the tragic gusto of Verdi.

The elements of time, place and plot allowed him a range of textures and moods wider than in his other operas.

Perez states that Koanga would rather die than be a slave, but Martinez suggests that Palmyra can be used to change his sentiments.