Ladysmith Black Mambazo represents the traditional culture of South Africa and is regarded as the country's cultural emissary at home and around the world. In 1993, at Nelson Mandela's request, Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied the future President to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Mambazo sang again at President Mandela's inauguration in May of 1994. They are a national treasure of the new South Africa in part because they embody the traditions suppressed in the old South Africa.
The traditional music sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is called ISICATHAMIYA (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya). It was born in the mines of South Africa. Black workers were taken by rail to work far away from their homes and their families. Poorly housed and paid worse, they would entertain themselves, after a six-day week, by singing songs into the wee hours every Sunday morning. Cothoza Mfana they called themselves, "tip toe guys", referring to the dance steps choreographed so as to not disturb the camp security guards. When miners returned to the homelands, the tradition returned with them. There began a fierce, but social, competition held regularly and a highlight of everyone's social calendar. The winners were awarded a goat for their efforts and, of course, the adoration of their fans. These competitions are held even today in YMCA assembly halls and church basements throughout Zululand South Africa.
In the late 1950's Joseph Shabalala took advantage of his proximity to the urban sprawl of the city of Durban, allowing him the opportunity to seek work in a factory. Leaving the family farm was not easy, but it was during this time that Joseph first showed a talent for singing. After singing with several groups in Durban he returned to his hometown of Ladysmith and began to put together groups of his own.
He was rarely satisfied with the results. "I felt there was something missing. I tried to teach the music that I felt but I failed, until 1964, when a harmonious dream came to me. I always heard the harmony from that dream and I said 'This is the sound that I want and I can teach it to my guys'." In the early years, Joseph recruited family and friends - brothers Headman, Ben and Jockey, cousins Albert and Abednego Mazibuko, and others. Joseph taught the group the harmonies from his dreams. With time and patience Joseph's work began to gel into a special sound.
The name LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO came about as a result of winning every singing competition in which the group entered. "Ladysmith" is the hometown of the Shabalala family; "Black" references the black oxen, considered to be the strongest on the farm. The Zulu word "Mambazo" refers to an ax - symbolic of the group's ability to "chop down" the competition. So good were they that after a time they were forbidden to enter the competitions but welcomed, of course, to entertain at them.
A radio broadcast in 1970 brought about their first record contract. Since then the group has recorded over forty albums, selling over seven million records at home and abroad, establishing themselves as the number one selling group from Africa. Their work with Paul Simon on the "Graceland" album attracted a world of fans that never knew that the sounds of Zulu harmony could be so captivating. Their first album release for the United States, "Shaka Zulu", was produced by Simon and won the Grammy Award in 1987 for Best Traditional Folk Recording. Since then they have been nominated for a Grammy Award eleven additional times. In 2005 they were awarded their second Grammy Award, for Best Traditional World Music Recording, for the release "Raise Your Spirit Higher." Their most recent release, "Long Walk To Freedom", was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2007.
This latest CD was quite special for the group. It's a celebration of the group's history and they are joined by such wonderful performers as Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Zap Mama, as well as friends from home including Hugh Masekela and Vusi Mahlasela.
To further celebrate the CD "Long Walk To Freedom," and Mambazo's history, the group performed to a sold out audience at New York City's Carnegie Hall with some of their friends from the recording. Not only were Natalie Merchant, Vusi Mahlasela and Sarah McLachlan present but they were joined by old friends Pete Seeger and the Mahotella Queens. Not yet released is the group's next CD. Titled "ILEMBE: A Tribute To King Shaka" the recording returns the group to it's traditional singing style they have long been known for. The recording will be released later this year in Europe and early next year in the USA. It is available in South Africa now.
Other recent special projects included joining American singer Josh Grobin on his latest CD as well as appearing at several of his concerts. As well, in May 2007, Paul Simon asked the group to join him on stage when he was awarded the inaugural Gershwin Award in Washington DC. The event was filmed for tv and has been showing on PBS stations throughout the USA. "On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps To Freedom," a documentary film which is the story of Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Short Documentary Film in 2001 as well as nominated for an Emmy Award for Best Cultural Documentary on American television.
The group has recorded with numerous artists from around the world besides Paul Simon. Some of these include Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Ben Harper, Mavis Staples, Andreas Vollenweider, The Wynans, The Coors and George Clinton. Their film work includes a featured appearance in Michael Jackson's video "Moonwalker" and Spike Lee's "Do It A Cappella". Black Mambazo has provided soundtrack material for Disney's "The Lion King Part II", Eddie Murphy's "Coming To America", Marlon Brando's "A Dry White Season", James Earl Jones' "Cry The Beloved Country" and Sean Connery's "League Of Extraordinary Gentlemen". They also can be heard singing the theme song to a children's tv show, in the USA, called "Land Before Time."
Their list of advertising appearances include award winning commercials for 7 Up and Life Savers Candy, as well as an "on camera" appearance for an IBM television campaign, "Solutions For a Small Planet". In 1999 Heinz Beans UK used a Mambazo song for a television advert that was so popular it helped the group's CD, at that time, sell over one million copies. Mambazo has worked in the theater as well. In 1992 the Steppenwolf Theater Company of Chicago used the group's singing and acting abilities in a play written about the apartheid era. After first premiering in Chicago, "The Song of Jacob Zulu" opened on Broadway in New York City in the spring of '93 and was nominated for six TONY AWARDS including Best Music for a Play. Joseph and the group also were honored with the prestigious Drama Desk Award for Best Original Score.
In 1995 Ladysmith Black Mambazo collaborated in the staging of "Nomathemba", a musical based on the first song ever written by Joseph Shabalala. "Nomathemba" was performed in Chicago, where it was awarded Best Original Musical Score. "Nomathemba" went on to perform runs at Washington D.C.'s Kennedy Center and Boston's Shubert Theatre.
The group has been invited to perform at many special occasions. One event, at the special invitation of President Mandela, was to perform for the Queen of England and the Royal Family at the Royal Albert Hall in London. Meeting the Queen, as well as other members of the Royal Family, was a stirring moment for the group. As Joseph later said, "To think of all the people we have met over the years. People from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia. Presidents, dignitaries, movie stars, and now the Queen of England. It is quite a dream for a Zulu South African to dream."
The group has also performed at two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, a performance for Pope John Paul II, South African Presidential inaugurations, the 1996 Summer Olympics, and many musical award shows from around the world. In the summer of 2002 Black Mambazo was again asked to represent their nation, in London, for a celebration for Queen Elizabeth II's 50th Anniversary as Monarch. Dubbed "The Party at the Palace," Ladysmith Black Mambazo joined with Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Phil Collins and Sir Paul McCartney on The Beatles song's "Hey Jude" and "All You Need Is Love."
Time does not seem to be slowing down the group as they continue to travel the world, meeting new friends and reaching new audiences. This allows Joseph to continue to spread his message of "Peace, Love, and Harmony." Meanwhile, traditional life in South Africa continues to change. Cable television, MTV, the internet and other international influences are taking its toll on tradition, and Joseph sees the wonder and the peril in this progress. Always a man to find faith in his dreams, Joseph's life ambition now is to establish the first Academy for the teaching and preservation of indigenous South African music and culture in South Africa.
Aside from singing and writing, Joseph continues the teaching of young children the traditions his elders taught him. In fact, over the past several years, with the retirement of several members of the group, Joseph has enlisted the talents of four sons...the next Mambazo generation. While bringing a youthful energy to the group, it shows the world, and Joseph, that his teachings and the traditions of his people will not disappear.
The group has devoted itself to the consciousness raising of South African culture, as well as Joseph's intention to fund the Music Academy during their U.S. tours. Attracting the financial and moral support of many, including Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg, was just the beginning. Black Mambazo's current and future tours continue to spread the word of Joseph's dream of preservation through education while encouraging all those who can, to give their support.
Joseph's appointment as an associate professor of ethno musicology at the University of Natal has given him a taste of the life of a scholar. "It's just like performing," says Joseph, beaming. "You work all day, correcting the mistakes, encouraging the young ones to be confident in their action. And if they do not succeed I always criticize myself. I am their teacher. They are willing to learn. But it is up to me to see they learn correctly."
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO IS:
JOSEPH SHABALALA
MSIZI SHABALALA
RUSSEL MTHEMBU
ALBERT MAZIBUKO
THULANI SHABALALA
THAMSANQA SHABALALA
SIBONGISENI SHABALALA
ABEDNEGO MAZIBUKO
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