Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from
South AfricaThe Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
that sings in the vocal styles of
isicathamiyaIsicathamiya is a singing style that originated from the South African Zulus. In European understanding, a cappella is also used to describe this form of singing.-Background:...
and
mbubeMbube is a form of South African vocal music, made famous by the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The word mbube means "lion" in Zulu. Traditionally performed a cappella, the members of the group are male although a few groups have a female singer...
. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with
Paul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
on his album,
GracelandGraceland was Paul Simon's highest charting album in the U.S. in over a decade, reaching #3 in the national Billboard charts, receiving a certification of 5× Platinum by the RIAA and eventually selling over 14 million copies, making it Simon's most commercially successful album...
and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards. They were formed by
Joseph ShabalalaJoseph Shabalala , born Bhekizizwe Joseph Siphatimandla Mxoveni Mshengu Bigboy Shabalala, is the founder and musical director of the South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.-Early life and career:...
in 1960 and later became one of South Africa's most prolific recording artists, with their releases receiving gold and platinum disc honors. The group has now become a mobile academy, teaching people about South Africa and its culture.
History
Joseph ShabalalaJoseph Shabalala , born Bhekizizwe Joseph Siphatimandla Mxoveni Mshengu Bigboy Shabalala, is the founder and musical director of the South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.-Early life and career:...
formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo because of a series of dreams he had in 1964, in which he heard certain
isicathamiyaIsicathamiya is a singing style that originated from the South African Zulus. In European understanding, a cappella is also used to describe this form of singing.-Background:...
harmonies (
isicathamiya being the traditional music of the Zulu people). Following their local success at wedding ceremonies and other gatherings, Shabalala entered them into
isicathamiya competitions. The group was described as 'so good' that they were eventually forbidden to enter the competitions, but welcomed to entertain at them. Although they had been recognised as an
isicathamiya group in 1964, they had been singing together since the early 1950s. They released their first album,
AmabuthoAmabutho is the 1973 debut release by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, recorded for Gallo Record Company . Amabutho sold over 25,000 copies in South Africa, and was the first record by black musicians in the country to receive gold disc certification...
, in 1973. The album, along with many other releases by the group, received gold disc certification. Ladysmith Black Mambazo's collaboration with
Paul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
in 1986 paved the way for international releases.
1960–1986
The first incarnation of Ladysmith Black Mambazo was "Ezimnyama" ("The Black Ones"), formed by Shabalala in December 1960. The members of the group were relatives (mostly brothers and cousins) of Shabalala, with many having sung with him while he was growing up on the farm where he was born. Although the group did sing well together and captured the sound of
cothoza mfana (
tip toe boys, a 1960s slang term for isicathamiya) and
mbubeMbube is a form of South African vocal music, made famous by the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The word mbube means "lion" in Zulu. Traditionally performed a cappella, the members of the group are male although a few groups have a female singer...
groups of the time, they were unknown outside of the Ladysmith district.
In 1964, Shabalala had a series of recurring dreams during his sleep, over a period of six months, featuring a choir singing in perfect harmony. Shabalala described this as a beautiful sound, and one not yet achieved by his group of the time. As a result, he reformed the group, bringing on board newer (younger) relatives but keeping the group name. He strived to teach them the harmonies from his dreams, creating what was to become a signature tune for the group: "Nomathemba" (a girl's name - meaning "hope"). After deciding that this group well replicated the beautiful, soft sounds from his dreams, Shabalala entered the group into isicathamiya competitions, held on Saturday nights in the halls of hostels in
DurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
and
JohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. The group managed to win nearly every competition that was held. As a result, Shabalala decided to change the name of the group to be more descriptive of its talent. The name "Ezimnyama" was replaced by "Ladysmith Black Mambazo".
The three elements of the new name were: the hometown of Shabalala's family,
Ladysmith, KwaZulu-NatalLadysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is north-west of Durban and south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textile and tyre production...
; the black
oxAn ox , also known as a bullock in Australia, New Zealand and India, is a bovine trained as a draft animal. Oxen are commonly castrated adult male cattle; castration makes the animals more tractable...
, considered to be the strongest farm animal; and
mambazo, which means
axeThe axe, or ax, is an implement that has been used for millennia to shape, split and cut wood; to harvest timber; as a weapon; and as a ceremonial or heraldic symbol...
in the
Zulu languageZulu is the language of the Zulu people with about 10 million speakers, the vast majority of whom live in South Africa. Zulu is the most widely spoken home language in South Africa as well as being understood by over 50% of the population...
, and is symbolic of the choir's ability to "chop down" the competition.
Eventually, by the early 1970s, the group was forbidden to compete in the competitions because of their continual success. They were, however, welcome to perform without taking part in the competition itself.
In 1967, the group began to make recordings for the SABC station Radio Zulu, appearing in DJ Alexius Buthelezi's popular
Cothoza Mfana programme which spotlighted the music of several local choirs. Their success was so great that music producers began enticing the group to sign a recording contract. In 1972 the group signed with
Gallo Record CompanyGallo Record Company is the largest record label in Africa. It is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is owned by Avusa Limited . The current Gallo Record Company is a hybrid of two rival South African record labels between the '40s and '80s: the original Gallo Africa and G.R.C...
under producer
West NkosiWest Nkosi was a South African music producer, saxophonist and songwriter.Nkosi was born in Nelspruit, South Africa. He was an original member of the Makgona Tsohle Band which backed Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens...
at the organisation's African music division, Mavuthela Music Company (Nkosi was also well known in South Africa as a saxophone jive star). Ladysmith Black Mambazo released their first album the following year,
AmabuthoAmabutho is the 1973 debut release by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, recorded for Gallo Record Company . Amabutho sold over 25,000 copies in South Africa, and was the first record by black musicians in the country to receive gold disc certification...
, which received gold status and was the first album by a black musician or group in South Africa to do so. Their subsequent albums also received gold or platinum certification. With the release of their second album, they had become professional singers.
In 1976, Shabalala converted to
ChristianityChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
and a host of religious material now entered the group's repertoire. Mambazo's first religious album,
Ukukhanya KwelangaUkukhanya Kwelanga was the fifth studio release by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It is notable as being the first religious album recorded by the group, following leader and director Joseph Shabalala's conversion to Christianity.-Track listing:# "Ngxa Ngimbona...
, was released soon afterwards. It earned a double platinum disc award, and the group's repertoire came to be dominated by hymns, mostly Methodist. Their 1977 LP
UkusindiswaUkusindiswa was the seventh release by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The album was, essentially, a collection of Zulu Christian hymns, whereas previous Mambazo albums had been entirely composed by the group's leader Joseph Shabalala...
became one of their most popular religious albums, selling double gold discs within three weeks of release. By 1981, the group's popularity was such that the apartheid government allowed the members to travel to
CologneCologne is Germany's fourth-largest city , and is the largest city both in the Germany Federal State of North Rhine-Westphalia and within the Rhine-Ruhr Metropolitan Area, one of the major European metropolitan areas with more than ten million inhabitants.Cologne is located on both sides of the...
, Germany as part of a South African folk music festival. The group toured West Germany and appeared on television, and learned some of the
German languageGerman is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
; for the group's 1981 album
Phansi EmgodiniPhansi Emgodini is an album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The album was recorded on August 17 1981 and released on September 9 that year...
, Shabalala composed a song titled "Wir Grüssen Euch Alle" ("We greet you all"). The following year, the group traveled back to Germany to appear on a televised quiz programme, bringing about requests for more live appearances. A track by the group also appeared on the groundbreaking British compilation album
The Indestructible Beat of SowetoThe Indestructible Beat of Soweto, later repackaged as The Indestructible Beat of Soweto Volume One, is a compilation album released in 1985 on the Earthworks label, featuring musicians from South Africa, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Mahlathini.-Overview:The album was conceived by white...
.
1986–1993
In 1985, Paul Simon traveled to South Africa in the hope of collaborating with African musicians for his
GracelandGraceland was Paul Simon's highest charting album in the U.S. in over a decade, reaching #3 in the national Billboard charts, receiving a certification of 5× Platinum by the RIAA and eventually selling over 14 million copies, making it Simon's most commercially successful album...
album. Simon contacted Shabalala and conversed with him in person - after much discussion and excitement, the group traveled to
LondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to record with Simon. The first recording was "Homeless" - the music and chorus were composed by Simon, with Shabalala composing the Zulu introduction and main (non-English) body of the song.
Graceland was released in late 1986, and although both Joseph Shabalala and Paul Simon were accused of breaking the cultural boycott of South Africa, the album became a huge success and sold 16 million copies and further boosted Ladysmith Black Mambazo's international image. This also paved the way for other African acts such as
StimelaStimela is a South African Afro-fusion band, founded by Ray Phiri in 1982 after his previous band the Cannibals disbanded. They created Fire, Passion and Ecstasy , Look, Listen and Decide .-Members:*Ray Phiri, lead guitar, lead vocals...
and
Mahlathini and the Mahotella QueensMahlathini and the Mahotella Queens was a South African mbaqanga supergroup composed of:...
to gain popularity amongst Western audiences.
After
Graceland, Simon acted as
producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
on three records for the group aimed at the American market,
Shaka ZuluShaka Zulu is an 1987 album by South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.Following the collaboration on Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland which brought the group to international prominence, Shaka Zulu marked the band's first genuine international hit, securing them an American...
(1987),
Journey of Dreams (1988) and
Two Worlds, One Heart (1990). On the latter album, the group recorded with
The WinansThe Winans are an American Gospel music quartet from Detroit, Michigan consisting of brothers Marvin, Carvin, Michael and Ronald Winans.-Members:Please refer to the Winans family page for more detail on the individual members.-Origins:...
,
Julia FordhamJulia Fordham is a British singer-songwriter based in California. Her professional career started in the early 1980s, under the name "Jules Fordham", as a backing singer for Mari Wilson and Kim Wilde.-Career:...
and
George ClintonGeorge Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
among other then-popular artists.
Shaka Zulu was nominated (and won) in the category of
Best Traditional Folk Recording in the Grammy Awards 1988.
In 1988, Ladysmith Black Mambazo appeared in
Michael JacksonMichael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's movie
MoonwalkerMoonwalker, also known as Michael Jackson: Moonwalker, is an American anthology film released in 1988 by singer Michael Jackson....
, where they performed "The Moon Is Walking" (an abridged version of the song "Lindelani", which appears on
Journey of Dreams) over the end credits. Ladysmith Black Mambazo was also featured in the
Sesame StreetSesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
song "Put Down The Duckie".
In 1988, Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang an arrangement of "Mbube" during the opening sequence of the movie
Coming to America, but the song was not released on the soundtrack.
On 10 December 1991, Shabalala's brother and one of the bass members in the group,
Headman ShabalalaHeadman Msongelwa Shabalala was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded and still led by his brother Joseph....
, were shot and killed by Sean Nicholas, a
whiteWhite people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
off-duty security guard. Paul Simon, who believed the killing to be racially motivated, led the court proceedings against Nicholas. Joseph Shabalala stopped singing. Eventually, aided by his
ChristianChristianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
beliefs, he returned to singing. Following the retirement of three more members in 1993, Shabalala recruited four of his sons into the group.
1993–2002
The Apartheid system was abolished in 1991. The release of
Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
after 27 years imprisonment brought a celebratory album release - 1993's
Liph' Iqiniso. The album's last track, "Isikifil' Inkululeko" ("Freedom Has Arrived"), was a celebration of the end of Apartheid.
According to Shabalala,
Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
(shortly after his release from prison) publicly stated that the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo were "South Africa's cultural ambassadors". Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied the future President of South Africa to the
Nobel Peace PrizeThe Nobel Peace Prize is one of the five Nobel Prizes bequeathed by the Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel.-Background:According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who...
ceremony in Oslo, Norway at the request of
Nelson MandelaNelson Rolihlahla Mandela served as President of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, and was the first South African president to be elected in a fully representative democratic election. Before his presidency, Mandela was an anti-apartheid activist, and the leader of Umkhonto we Sizwe, the armed wing...
, in 1993. Mambazo sang again at President Mandela's
inaugurationAn inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a leader's term of office. An example is the ceremony in which the President of the United States officially takes the oath of office....
in May 1994, and then later at his birthday celebrations.
In 1997, for a series of television advertisements entitled "Toast for Life" for Heinz soups, baked beans, salad cream, and tomato ketchup, the group recorded an abridged version of "Inkanyezi Nezazi" ("
The Star and the Wiseman"). The adverts proved so popular that the original studio version (recorded back in 1992) was released as a single, with the cover art imitating the label on a tin of Heinz Baked Beans; the single reached #2 in the UK Pop Charts. The single was followed up by
The Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo - The Star and the Wiseman in 1998, a compilation release which became so popular that it was certified triple platinum, selling 1 million copies in Britain alone. The Heinz campaign led to a reawakening of the group in Britain, and many television and radio performances beckoned over the next few years, as well as performing for the
British royal familyThe British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
. In 2001, the group was referenced in the
Family GuyFamily Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
episode
Lethal Weapons.
2002–2006
As a follow-up to the traditional release
Lihl' Ixhiba LikagogoLihl' Ixhiba Likagogo is an album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released in October 2000 and included the song "Halala South Africa" , paying tribute to the new South Africa...
in 2000, the group began preparations for
WenyukelaWenyukela is an album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released on March 5, 2003 and was re-released in North America under the English title Raise Your Spirit Higher on Headsup International...
, another album of new material, in 2002. However, the making of the record underwent severe strain when, in May 2002, Shabalala's wife of thirty years (and lead singer in the allied group "Women of Mambazo"),
NellieNellie Shabalala was the wife of Ladysmith Black Mambazo leader and founder, Joseph Shabalala, for over thirty years. She had formed her own allied group, Women of Mambazo, in the 1970s...
, was murdered in a church car park by a masked gunman. Shabalala's hand was injured trying to protect his wife. Joseph's son Vivian Nkosinathi was accused of hiring a
hitmanA hitman is a person hired to kill another person.- Hitmen in organized crime :Hitmen are largely linked to the world of organized crime. Hitmen are hired people who kill people for money. Notable examples include Murder, Inc., Mafia hitmen and Richard Kuklinski.- Other cases involving hitmen...
to murder his stepmother Nellie. During the court trial, Nkosinathi supposedly testified that the South African police offered some kind of reprieve if he would implicate his own father, Joseph, in the murder.
WenyukelaWenyukela is an album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released on March 5, 2003 and was re-released in North America under the English title Raise Your Spirit Higher on Headsup International...
, however, went ahead, as Shabalala began to recover. Songs such as "Wenza Ngani?" ("
How Did You Do That?") had a moral theme, such as
racismRacism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
. Others included "Fak' Ibhande" ("
Don't Drink and Drive"), which warned of the dangers of alcohol and driving; "Wenyukela", which spoke of the resurrection of
JesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and how South Africans were nearly misled into killing each other during the 1994 elections; and "Selingelethu Sonke", a song asking for
fair tradeFair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries make better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as higher social and environmental standards...
in Africa. The group had originally spoken of the issue of fair trade in the
OxfamOxfam is an international confederation of 15 organizations working in 98 countries worldwide to find lasting solutions to poverty and related injustice around the world. In all Oxfam’s actions, the ultimate goal is to enable people to exercise their rights and manage their own lives...
campaign
Make Trade FairMake Trade Fair is a campaign organized by Oxfam International to promote trade justice and fair trade among governments, institutions, and multinational corporations.-Objectives:The campaign has focused on the elimination of several trade practices:...
. They appeared as guests in "The Big Noise", a worldwide petition for fair trade.
The success of
Wenyukela in South Africa prompted its release in
BritainThe United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in March 2003 on
Wrasse RecordsWrasse Records is a British record label. It was started in 1998 by Ian and Jo Ashbridge. Both had been involved in the music industry prior to them starting up their own company. Its offices are based in the UK, but it distributes its CDs all around the world...
. Following the repeated success of the album, the American-based Heads Up International released the album in January 2004. In addition to the standard version, Heads Up released the album in the Hybrid SACD format. The US release reportedly went platinum and it garnered the group their second
Grammy AwardA Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
. They also embarked on a three month tour of the United States.
The group signed to Heads Up (in America; they remained with Gallo in South Africa) with their 2005 release,
No BoundariesNo Boundaries is a 2005 album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the English Chamber Orchestra. It was released on January 25, 2006 and featured many Western classicals tracks composed by Mozart and Bach as well as Joseph Shabalala originals No Boundaries is a 2005...
, a collaboration with the
English Chamber OrchestraThe English Chamber Orchestra is a British chamber orchestra based in London. The full orchestra regularly plays concerts at Cadogan Hall, and the ECO Ensemble performs at Wigmore Hall...
which featured many classical standards (
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring,
Ave Verum Corpus) and Mambazo tunes (
Homeless,
Awu, Wemadoda,
Ngingenwe Emoyeni). Despite initial worry about merging European traditions and Zulu folklore, the album sold very well and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
2006–2008
Long Walk to FreedomLong Walk to Freedom is a 2006 album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released on January 24, 2006 and featured collaborations with artists including Sarah McLachlan, Melissa Etheridge, Joe McBride, Taj Mahal, Hugh Masekela, Zap Mama and many more.The album...
, a celebration of 45 years of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was released by the group on 24 January 2006. On the album (which also celebrated the 20th anniversary of
Graceland), the group recorded with a multitude of artists including
Zap MamaZap Mama is a Belgian musical group founded and led by Marie Daulne. Daulne says her mission is to be a bridge between the European and the African and bring the two cultures together with her music...
,
Sarah McLachlanSarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
,
Melissa EtheridgeMelissa Lou Etheridge is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician.Etheridge is known for her mixture of confessional lyrics, pop-based folk-rock, and raspy, smoky vocals...
, Joe McBride,
Natalie MerchantNatalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
,
Emmylou HarrisEmmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
, and
Taj MahalHenry Saint Clair Fredericks , who uses the stage name Taj Mahal, is an American Grammy Award winning blues musician. He incorporates elements of world music into his music...
as well as South African musicians
Lucky DubeLucky Philip Dube was a South African reggae musician. He recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans in a 25-year period and was South Africa's biggest selling reggae artist...
, Phuzekhemisi, Bhekumuzi Luthuli, Nokukhanya, Thandiswa,
Vusi MahlaselaVusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane is a Sotho South African singer-songwriter.His music is generally described as "African folk". His work was an inspiration to many in the anti-apartheid movement. His themes include the struggle for freedom, and forgiveness and reconciliation with enemies...
and
Hugh MasekelaHugh Ramopolo Masekela is a South African trumpeter, flugelhornist, cornetist, composer, and singer.-Early life:Masekela was born in Kwa-Guqa Township, Witbank, South Africa. He began singing and playing piano as a child...
. Ladysmith Black Mambazo also expressed wishes to work with Paul Simon once more, twenty years on since
Graceland.
To support the promotion of the album and tour, Mambazo appeared on various television and radio programmes throughout January and February 2006. The group also started a street team; this is currently exclusive to fans in the US and Canada.
In April 2006, Mambazo collaborated with
Josh GrobanJoshua Winslow "Josh" Groban is an American singer-songwriter, musician, actor, and record producer. His four solo albums have been certified at least multi-platinum, and in 2007, he was charted as the number-one best selling artist in the United States with over 21 million records in that country...
for his third studio album,
AwakeAwake is a platinum-certified album by the American singer-songwriter Josh Groban. Announced on September 13, 2006, it is Groban's third studio album, and a follow-up to his multi-platinum album Closer. Awake was released on November 7, 2006....
. The songs, "Weeping" and "Lullaby", featured a clear South African influence; lines from a Mambazo song, "Wangibambezela" ("
Message from his Heart") were added to the backing track of "Weeping". Following this, in August 2006, Mambazo began working with
Mavis StaplesMavis Staples is an American rhythm and blues and gospel singer, actress and civil rights activist who recorded with The Staple Singers, her family's band.-Biography:...
in a collaboration for Staples's new album. Whilst Mambazo toured the United States, the television program
Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
parodied the group in a
TV Funhouse sketch, hosted by
Dennis HaysbertDennis Dexter Haysbert is an American film and television actor. He is known for portraying baseball player Pedro Cerrano in the Major League film trilogy, President David Palmer on the American television series 24, and Sergeant Major Jonas Blane on the drama series The Unit, as well as his work...
, about failed Saturday morning cartoons starring black cartoon characters, one of which was a cartoon featuring the group called,
Ladysmith Black Mambazo in Outer Space. Members of the group added commentary to the short for the DVD release of the SNL special, "The Best of TV Funhouse".
On October 17, 2006, Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed a special concert,
Long Walk to Freedom: An Evening with Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The night included special guest appearances by
Sarah McLachlanSarah Ann McLachlan, OC, OBC is a Canadian musician, singer and songwriter. Known for her emotional ballads and mezzo-soprano vocal range, as of 2006, she has sold over 40 million albums worldwide. McLachlan's best-selling album to date is Surfacing, for which she won two Grammy Awards and four...
,
Natalie MerchantNatalie Anne Merchant is an American singer-songwriter and musician. She joined the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 and left it to begin her solo career in 1993.-Early life:...
,
Mahotella QueensThe Mahotella Queens are a South African singing group formed in 1964 comprising Hilda Tloubatla, Nobesuthu Mbadu and Mildred Mangxola...
,
Vusi MahlaselaVusi Sidney Mahlasela Ka Zwane is a Sotho South African singer-songwriter.His music is generally described as "African folk". His work was an inspiration to many in the anti-apartheid movement. His themes include the struggle for freedom, and forgiveness and reconciliation with enemies...
, and
Pete SeegerPeter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo was nominated for two Grammy Awards in the 49th Annual Grammy Awards in 2007, for their album
Long Walk to Freedom. The album was nominated in the categories
Best Contemporary World Music Album and
Best Surround Sound Production, but did not win.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo's 2007 album,
IlembeIlembe is a 2007 album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released on February 26, 2007 and did not feature collaborations, and was simply "Ladysmith Black Mambazo at its best", as the Gallo press release for the anticipated release put it.-Album's theme:Songs...
, was released on February 26, 2007. It was released in South Africa initially, and issued in the United Kingdom on the Warner Jazz label on April 2, 2007 (under the title
Ilembe - Our Tribute to King Shaka). The album featured new recordings such as "Ommu Beno Mmu" ("Somebody And Somebody"), "Sizobalanda" ("We Are Here") and "Iphel' Emasini" ("A Cockroach In The Milk" - Zulu proverb). The album was released in the United States on January 22, 2008, under the title
Ilembe: Honoring Shaka ZuluIlembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu is a 2008 release by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released on January 22, 2008. The album does not feature collaborations with other artists; it is "simply Ladysmith Black Mambazo at its best", as the Gallo press release for the...
, on Heads Up International.
2008–present
There had been many questions on when founder, director, composer, and lead singer Joseph Shabalala would finally retire from his group. On January 23, 2008, Shabalala issued a statement on this.
The full statement is reproduced below:
Ladysmith Black Mambazo's 2007 release,
Ilembe, garnered success on both sides of the world. In 2008 the group won the
SAMA AwardThe South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
for
Best Traditional A Cappella Album for
Ilembe, and it was announced in November 2008 that the US
Surround soundSurround sound encompasses a range of techniques such as for enriching the sound reproduction quality of an audio source with audio channels reproduced via additional, discrete speakers. Surround sound is characterized by a listener location or sweet spot where the audio effects work best, and...
version of the album was nominated for
Best Traditional World Music Album in the 2009 Grammy Awards, marking their 13th Grammy nomination. The group won this award - their third Grammy - in the ceremony held on 8 February 2009.
In September 2008, Mambazo in collaboration with the SABC Choir released
My Dream - African SoundsMy Dream - African Sounds is a 2008 release by the South African groups Ladysmith Black Mambazo and the SABC Choir. It was released on September 30, 2008...
, an album featuring the two choirs performing each other's songs, as well as singing together. Songs included are "Plea for Africa", original Mambazo tunes "Shintsha Sithothobala" and "Angimboni Ofana Naye", as well as new compositions like "Buya Lindiwe" and "Okuhle Hle".
Ladysmith Black Mambazo's 2010 album
Kobuye Kulunge was released in April 2010, initially in South Africa only. It is expected to be released internationally by the end of the year.
The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Foundation
In January 1999, Joseph Shabalala founded
The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Foundation. The aim of the organization is to teach young Zulu South African children about their traditional culture and music; isicathamiya. Today, the Mambazo Academy is currently being built, with plans for a rehearsal hall, teaching areas and a professional recording studio. The main aim, of course, is to promote and teach the history of isicathamiya music to youngsters.
Awards and nominations
Ladysmith Black Mambazo have been acknowledged in award ceremonies such as the Grammy Awards and
Academy AwardsAn Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...
. In 1988, the group received their first Grammy Award for the album
Shaka ZuluShaka Zulu is an 1987 album by South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.Following the collaboration on Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland which brought the group to international prominence, Shaka Zulu marked the band's first genuine international hit, securing them an American...
, which was their first release recorded for the American market. Since then, they have won two more, and have been nominated for a total of thirteen times.
Awards
| 1981 |
SARIE Award |
Best Choral Group on Disc |
| 1988 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional Folk Recording |
Shaka Zulu |
| 1993 |
Drama Desk Award |
Outstanding Music in a Play The Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music in a Play is presented by the Drama Desk, a committee of New York City theatre critics, writers, and editors...
|
The Song of Jacob Zulu (stage) |
| 1996 |
Drama Desk Award |
Best Original Music Score |
Nomathemba (stage) |
| 1997 |
SAMA Award The South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...
|
Best Zulu Music Album |
Ukuzala-Ukuzelula |
| 1997 |
SAMA Award |
Best Duo or Group Award |
Ukuzala-Ukuzelula |
| 2001 |
SAMA Award |
Best Zulu Music Album |
Lihl' Ixhiba Likagogo |
| 2005 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Raise Your Spirit Higher |
| 2008 |
SAMA Award |
Best Traditional A Cappella Album |
Ilembe |
| 2009 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu |
Nominations
| 1988 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional Folk Recording |
Shaka Zulu |
| 1991 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Classic Tracks |
| 1993 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Best of - Vol. 1 |
| 1995 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Liph' Iqiniso |
| 1995 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Gift of the Tortoise |
| 1996 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Thuthukani Ngoxolo |
| 1998 |
Grammy Award |
Best Contemporary World Music Album |
Heavenly |
| 1999 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Live at the Royal Albert Hall |
| 2001 |
Academy Award |
Best Short Documentary Film |
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom |
| 2002 |
Emmy Award |
Best Cultural Documentary |
On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom |
| 2005 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Raise Your Spirit Higher |
| 2006 |
Grammy Award |
Best Contemporary World Music Album |
No Boundaries |
| 2007 |
Grammy Award |
Best Contemporary World Music Album |
Long Walk to Freedom |
| 2007 |
Grammy Award |
Best Surround Sound Production |
Long Walk to Freedom |
| 2009 |
Grammy Award |
Best Traditional World Music Album |
Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu |
The competitions and the first Mambazo concerts
After the release of the group's first album in 1973, they were banned from competing in the
isicathamiyaIsicathamiya is a singing style that originated from the South African Zulus. In European understanding, a cappella is also used to describe this form of singing.-Background:...
competitions because of their ability to win many of the competition. They were, however, welcome to perform for the audience. Following this, the group started performing for their own audiences in shows that were specially made - and soon afterwards, the group began touring around South Africa in their own concerts, but due to the Apartheid system in use, they were often stopped by police guards; on some of these occasions they were even made to lie down on the ground whilst being searched. Shortly afterwards, they were allowed to tour without
permitsThe verb license or grant licence means to give permission. The noun license or licence refers to that permission as well as to the document recording that permission.A license may be granted by a party to another party as an element of an agreement...
.
The Graceland success
By 1986, the group had a very small number of white fans in South Africa; the majority of their fan base was black people (the group mainly toured in townships). After
Paul SimonPaul Frederic Simon is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist.Simon is best known for his success, beginning in 1965, as part of the duo Simon & Garfunkel, with musical partner Art Garfunkel. Simon wrote most of the pair's songs, including three that reached number one on the US singles...
included the group on his "
GracelandGraceland was Paul Simon's highest charting album in the U.S. in over a decade, reaching #3 in the national Billboard charts, receiving a certification of 5× Platinum by the RIAA and eventually selling over 14 million copies, making it Simon's most commercially successful album...
Tour of 1987", the group began touring by themselves and became very widely known. They have visited Europe, USA, and Asia, amongst others. The group is quite possibly better known in the USA (after the Graceland success and various advert campaigns for 7-Up and
Life SaversLife Savers is an American brand of ring-shaped mints and artificially fruit-flavored hard candy. The candy is known for its distinctive packaging, coming in aluminum foil rolls....
candy) and the UK (again, because of the
Graceland success, and several successful advertisements for
HeinzThe H. J. Heinz Company , commonly known as Heinz and famous for its "57 Varieties" slogan and its ketchup, is an American food company with world headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.Perhaps best known for its ketchup, the H.J...
).
Today
The group tours eight months of the year. In 2011 they will tour North America from mid January until late March. They then have a tour of the UK and Europe, from mid May until late June. There are also plans for a tour of Asia/Australia in October and a return to the USA.
Membership
Initially, the group was formed of Joseph Shabalala, his brothers
HeadmanHeadman Msongelwa Shabalala was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded and still led by his brother Joseph....
and Enoch, cousins
AlbertMdletshe Albert Mazibuko is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 - and still led - by his cousin Joseph....
, Milton, Funokwakhe,
AbednegoMpindela Abednego Mazibuko is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 - and still led - by his cousin Joseph....
and Joseph Mazibuko as well as close friends Matovoti Msimanga and Walter Malinga. Altogether, the group has had over 30 different members at one point or another over the past forty-five years.
Even though the early line-ups of the group contained a large amount of relatives from Shabalala's family (and, from 1969, his cousins from the Mazibuko family), most of the members that arrived in the group after the mid-1970s were recruited for their professional qualities. After alto voice Milton Mazibuko was murdered in 1980, the group spent quite a few months 'off', until returning the following year with two new members, Inos Phungula and Geophrey Mdletshe. In the 1970s, the group's original six members had been joined by many other men (most of whom only stayed with them for the recording sessions). The "Graceland" Group, that is the members who were with the group during the Paul Simon recording and tours, stayed together until 1993. After the murder of Joseph's brother, Headman, in 1991, brother Ben Shabalala and friend Geophrey Mdletshe retired. Three of Joseph Shabalala's sons joined the group in at that point, Thulani, Sibongiseni and Thamsanqa. In 1998, Inos Phungula retired and was replaced by another son of Joseph, Msizi Shabalala.
The members of the group currently reside in or near
PinetownPinetown is a small city just inland from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pinetown is situated 16 km west of Durban at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,300 feet . It was established in 1850 around the Wayside Hotel, itself built the year before along the main wagon route between Durban and...
, just outside of the coastal city of
DurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
in
KwaZulu-NatalKwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
. The chorus' members are Joseph Shabalala; his sons
ThamsanqaThamsanqa Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph. He will replace Joseph as the group's lead singer after his father's retirement ....
,
MsiziMsizi Innocent Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph.Msizi was born in Ladysmith to Joseph and his late wife Nellie...
,
ThulaniThulani Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph.Thulani was born in Ladysmith to Joseph and his late wife Nellie...
, and
SibongiseniSibongiseni Lucas Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph....
; cousins Albert and Abednego Mazibuko; and close friends
Russel MthembuNdoda Russel Mthembu is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 - and still led - by close friend Joseph Shabalala....
and Ngane Dlamini.
Jabulani DubazanaJabulani Frederick Mwelase Dubazana was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 - and still led - by close friend Joseph Shabalala....
, a member of the group since 1975, retired from international touring in September 2004. Long-time member
Jockey ShabalalaJockey Shabalala was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded and still led by his brother Joseph....
died at his home in
LadysmithLadysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is north-west of Durban and south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textile and tyre production...
, South Africa on 11 February 2006. He was 62, and was a member of the group for almost forty years.
Discography
Ladysmith Black Mambazo first recorded in 1973 on the
GalloGallo Record Company is the largest record label in Africa. It is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and is owned by Avusa Limited . The current Gallo Record Company is a hybrid of two rival South African record labels between the '40s and '80s: the original Gallo Africa and G.R.C...
label in South Africa. Since then the group has recorded over 50 albums, many of which have received gold- and/or platinum-disc certification.
External links