Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They became known internationally after singing with American Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland. They have since won multiple awards, including five Grammy Awards[2] the fifth of which they dedicated to the late former South African President Nelson Mandela.[3]
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
1960–present
- Thulani Shabalala
- Thamsanqa Shabalala
- Sibongiseni Shabalala
- Msizi Shabalala
- Pius Shezi
- Albert Mazibuko
- Abednego Mazibuko
- Sabelo Mthembu
- Mfanafuthi Dlamini
- Jockey Shabalala
- Jabulani Dubazana
- Inos Phungula
- Ben Shabalala
- Geophrey Mdletshe
- Headman Shabalala
- Milton Mazibuko
- Funokwakhe Mazibuko
- Joseph Shabalala
- Walter Malinga
- Russel Mthembu
Formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960, Ladysmith Black Mambazo became one of South Africa's most prolific musical groups. Their releases received gold and platinum disc honours in both South Africa and abroad.[4] The group became a mobile academy of South African cultural heritage through their African indigenous isicathamiya music.[3]
Membership[edit]
Initially, the group comprised Joseph Shabalala, his brothers Headman and Enoch, cousins Albert, Milton, Funokwakhe, Abednego, and Joseph Mazibuko, as well as close friends Matovoti Msimanga and Walter Malinga. Altogether, the group has had more than 30 different members at one point or another over the past 45 years.[38] However, since 1993 there have only been two membership changes due to retirements.
The members of the group currently reside in or near Pinetown, just outside the coastal city of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal. The chorus' members are Joseph Shabalala's sons Thamsanqa, Msizi, Thulani, and Sibongiseni; cousins Albert and Abednego Mazibuko; and close friends Russel Mthembu and Ngane Dlamini.