Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube.
They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland, and have won multiple awards, including five Grammy Awards, dedicating their fifth Grammy to the late former President Nelson Mandela.
The group was formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, Ladysmith Black Mambazo became one of South Africa’s most prolific recording artists, with their releases receiving gold and platinum disc honours. The group became a mobile academy of South African cultural heritage through their African indigenous isicathamiya music.
The group started as a family sort of as founding members were Joseph and his brothers Headman and Enoch, cousins Albert, Milton, Funokwakhe, Abednego and Joseph Mazibuko, as well as close friends Matovoti Msimanga and Walter Malinga.
Overtime, the group has had more than 30 different members at one point or another over the past 45 years. However, since 1993 there have only been two membership changes due to retirements.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo was formed because of a series of dreams Joseph Shabalala had in 1964, in which he heard certain isicathamiya 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, Amabutho, in 1973. The album, along with many other releases by the group, received gold disc certification. Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s collaboration with Paul Simon in 1986 became the breakthrough to the international recognition. Afterwhich other collaboration were realised like “Knocking on Heaven’s door” with Dolly Parton.
POPULAR TRACKS
- Homeless
- Knocking on Heaven’s door
- Kings of Kings
- Rain, rain, beautiful rain
- Jesus is my leader
- Rivers of dreams
- I’ll take you there
AWARDS
- 1981 – SARIE Award (best Choral Group on Disc)
- 1988 – Grammy Award (Best Traditional Folk Recording)
- 1993 – Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Music in a Play)
- 1996 – Drama Desk Award (Best Original Music Album)
- 1997 – SAMA Award (Best Zulu Music Award)
- 1997 – SAMA Award (Best Duo or Group Award)
- 2001 – SAMA Award (Best Zulu Music Award)
- 2004 – Grammy Award (Best Traditional World Music Album)
- 2008 – SAMA Award (Best Traditional Acappella Album)
- 2009 – Grammy Award (Best Traditional World Music Album)
- 2013 – Grammy Award (Best World Music Album)
- 2018 – Grammy Award (Best World Music Album)
Ladysmith Black Mambazo first recorded in 1973 on the Gallo label in South Africa. Since then the group has recorded over 50 albums, many of which have received gold- and/or platinum-disc certification.
