History
Joseph Shabalala formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo because of a series of dreams he 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.
[2] 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.
[3] Ladysmith Black Mambazo's collaboration with
Paul Simon in 1986 paved the way for international releases, making them widely known across the world.
1960–1986
"The Black Ones" redirects here. For the Hindu goddess, see
The black one. For the 2005 drone metal album, see
Black One.
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
mbube groups of the time, they were unknown outside of the Ladysmith district.
[4]
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.
[5] 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
Durban and
Johannesburg. 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-Natal; the black
ox, considered to be the strongest farm animal; and
mambazo, which means
axe in the
Zulu language, 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.
[6]
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.
[7] 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 Company under producer
West Nkosi 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,
Amabutho, 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.
[8] With the release of their second album, they had become professional singers.
[7]
In 1976, Shabalala converted to
Christianity and a host of religious material now entered the group's repertoire. Mambazo's first religious album,
Ukukhanya Kwelanga, 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
Ukusindiswa became one of their most popular religious albums, selling double gold discs within three weeks of release.
[8] By 1981, the group's popularity was such that the
apartheid government allowed the members to travel to
Cologne, Germany as part of a South African folk music festival.
[9] The group toured West Germany and appeared on television, and learned some of the
German language; for the group's 1981 album
Phansi Emgodini, 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.
[9] A track by the group also appeared on the groundbreaking British compilation album
The Indestructible Beat of Soweto.
1986–1993
In 1985, Paul Simon traveled to South Africa in the hope of collaborating with African musicians for his
Graceland album. Simon contacted Shabalala and conversed with him in person - after much discussion and excitement, the group traveled to
London 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,
[10] the album became a huge success and sold 16 million copies
[11] and further boosted Ladysmith Black Mambazo's international image. This also paved the way for other African acts such as
Stimela and
Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens to gain popularity amongst Western audiences.
[12]
After
Graceland, Simon acted as
producer on three records for the group aimed at the American market,
Shaka Zulu (1987),
Journey of Dreams (1988) and
Two Worlds, One Heart (1990). On the latter album, the group recorded with
The Winans,
Julia Fordham and
George Clinton 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 Jackson's movie
Moonwalker, 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 Street 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 Shabalala, were shot and killed by Sean Nicholas, a
white off-duty security guard. Paul Simon, who believed the killing to be racially motivated, led the court proceedings against Nicholas.
[13] Joseph Shabalala stopped singing. Eventually, aided by his
Christian beliefs, he returned to singing. Following the retirement of three more members in 1993, Shabalala recruited four of his sons into the group.
[14]
1993–2002
The
Apartheid system was abolished in 1991. The release of
Nelson Mandela 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.
[15]
According to Shabalala,
Nelson Mandela (shortly after his release from prison) publicly stated that the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo were "South Africa's cultural ambassadors".
[16] Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied the future President of South Africa to the
Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in
Oslo, Norway at the request of
Nelson Mandela, in 1993. Mambazo sang again at
President Mandela's
inauguration in May 1994, and then later at his birthday celebrations.
[17]
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.
[18] 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 family. In 2001, the group was referenced in the
Family Guy episode
Lethal Weapons.
2002–2006
As a follow-up to the traditional release
Lihl' Ixhiba Likagogo in 2000, the group began preparations for
Wenyukela, 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"),
Nellie, was murdered in a church car park by a masked gunman. Shabalala's hand was injured trying to protect his wife.
[19] Joseph's son Vivian Nkosinathi was accused of hiring a
hitman 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.
[20]
Wenyukela, however, went ahead, as Shabalala began to recover. Songs such as "Wenza Ngani?" ("
How Did You Do That?") had a moral theme, such as
racism. 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
Jesus and how South Africans were nearly misled into killing each other during the 1994 elections;
[21] and "Selingelethu Sonke", a song asking for
fair trade in Africa. The group had originally spoken of the issue of fair trade in the
Oxfam campaign
Make Trade Fair. They appeared as guests in "The Big Noise", a worldwide petition for fair trade.
[22]
The success of
Wenyukela in South Africa prompted its release in
Britain in March 2003 on
Wrasse Records. 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
[23] and it garnered the group their second
Grammy Award. 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 Boundaries, a collaboration with the
English Chamber Orchestra 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
[24] and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
2006–2008
Ladysmith Black Mambazo performing in 2006
, 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 Mama,
Sarah McLachlan,
Melissa Etheridge,
Joe McBride,
Natalie Merchant,
Emmylou Harris, and
Taj Mahal as well as South African musicians
Lucky Dube,
Phuzekhemisi,
Bhekumuzi Luthuli,
Nokukhanya,
Thandiswa,
Vusi Mahlasela and
Hugh Masekela. Ladysmith Black Mambazo also expressed wishes to work with Paul Simon once more, twenty years on since
Graceland.
[25]
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.
[26]
In April 2006, Mambazo collaborated with
Josh Groban for his third studio album,
Awake. 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 Staples in a collaboration for Staples's new album.
[27] Whilst Mambazo toured the United States, the television program
Saturday Night Live parodied the group in a
TV Funhouse sketch, hosted by
Dennis Haysbert, 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".
[28]
On October 17, 2006,
[29] 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 McLachlan,
Natalie Merchant,
Mahotella Queens,
Vusi Mahlasela, and
Pete Seeger.
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,
Ilembe, 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 Zulu, on Heads Up International.
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.
[30]
The full statement is reproduced below:
| “ | In the early 1960's I had a dream of a type of singing group that I wanted to create. Not just a dream, in the wishful way, but an actual dream while I was asleep. This beautiful dream led to the creation of my group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Now, some forty five plus years later this original dream has led to so many more dreams. We have been awarded Grammy Awards, represented our homeland of South Africa at many prestigious events, including accompanying Nelson Mandela to Norway to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, traveled the world so many times and most importantly, spread a message of Peace, Love and Harmony to millions of people. This was never a dream a black South African could ever imagine.
As the years have passed, and the 20th century became the 21st, I started to get asked what will happen to Ladysmith Black Mambazo once I retired, if I ever retired. Well, I have spent much time thinking about this. Ladysmith Black Mambazo was never about one person. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a mission. A mission to spread our message and to keep our culture alive and known. South Africa is a most wonderful place, filled with beautiful people. By touring, as we have, almost seven months every year for over twenty years, we have wanted to keep South Africa alive in people's hearts.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a family. Within the group I have had brothers and cousins singing together. Over the past fifteen years, because of retirements and death, I have been joined by four of my sons. They are the future of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, our next generation. The mission and message will continue. When the time comes for me to finish touring and to stay home they will carry on my dream. As well, my son Thamsanqa (Tommy) will become the new leader of the group. Thus, the dream I had over forty five years ago will continue well into the 21st century. Ladysmith Black Mambazo must continue as the message of Peace, Love and Harmony never must be silenced. We never will be silenced and we hope our fans and friends around the world will keep wanting to hear this message.
Ngiyabonga! Thank you! | ” |
|
Ladysmith Black Mambazo's 2007 release,
Ilembe, garnered success on both sides of the world. In 2008 the group won the
SAMA Award for
Best Traditional A Cappella Album for
Ilembe, and it was announced in November 2008 that the US
Surround sound 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 Sounds, 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 Awards. In 1988, the group received their first Grammy Award for the album
Shaka Zulu, 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.
| 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 Song of Jacob Zulu (stage) |
| 1996 | Drama Desk Award | Best Original Music Score | Nomathemba (stage) |
| 1997 | SAMA Award | 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 |
[
| 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 |
