With nearly 40 releases since their first recording in 1962, Mambazo's captivating Zulu harmonies are a proud, strong homage to the jubilance, power and beauty of indigenous music Joseph Shabalala is a man that carries on developing his dreams. He has enlisted the talents of four of his sons the next Mambazo generation. Josephs ambition is now to establish the first Academy for the teaching and preservation of indigenous South African music and culture in South Africa.

Since the cooperation on the Graceland album - more than 14 million copies sold - with Paul Simon and their hit title "Homeless," Mambazo have been known all over the world. The group has recorded over forty albums, selling over six million records at home and abroad, establishing them as the number one record selling group from Africa.

Their first album release for the United States, Shaka Zulu, won a Grammy Award in 1987. Since then they have been nominated for a Grammy Award six additional times, including a nomination in 2001 for the album Live From Royal Albert Hall.

The group has performed at two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, for the Pope in Rome, South African Presidential inaugurations, the 1996 Summer Olympics, a Muhammad Ali television special and in the summer of 2002 at a celebration for Queen Elizabeth II'. Dubbed "The Party at the Palace," Ladysmith Black Mambazo joined with Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Phil Collins and Paul McCartney on McCartney's song's "Hey Jude" and "All You Need Is Love."

The music sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is called isicathamiya. In the mines of South Africa, black workers would entertain themselves after a six-day week by singing songs into the night, and choreographing dance steps on "tip toe" so as not to disturb the camp security guards. When the miners returned to the homelands, the tradition returned with them. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is by far the most famous of the South African isicathamiya groups.

While the group's music is clearly rooted in African musical traditions, the message speaks to all people whose ears and hearts are open, says Shabalala, a native of South Africa?s Zulu people who converted to Christianity around the time of his musical awakening in the late 1950s and early ?60s. To this day he is an active minister in a township outside of Durban, where he gives sermons in Zulu. ?Without hearing the lyrics, this music gets into the blood, because it comes from the blood,? he says. ?It invokes enthusiasm and excitement, regardless of what you follow spiritually.?

Shabalala?s spirituality underwent the supreme test during the making of Raise Your Spirit Higher -Wenyukela. In the spring of 2002, his wife of thirty years was murdered in a church parking lot by a masked gunman. To date, no conviction has been made. Despite the overwhelming grief that inevitably follows such a profound loss, Shabalala chose the spiritual high road and has remained on it since. He keeps Nellie?s memory and spirit alive in his heart and music, and his faith remains unshaken. ?At the time that this happened, I tried to take my mind deep into the spirit, because I know the truth is there,? he says. ?In my flesh, I might be angry, I might cry, I might suspect somebody. But when I took my mind into the spirit, the spirit told me to be calm and not to worry. Bad things happen, and the only thing to do is to raise your spirit higher.?

He had help from his teenage grandsons, who express their love and support in ?Tribute,? a short but moving hip-hop track that closes out Raise Your Spirit Higher. On the track, they urge their grandfather to be strong and not worry, because their grandmother is in a better and happier place.

Eternally optimistic, Shabalala is confident that his perseverance in the face of personal tragedy is a powerful sign for the world to heed: ?When the world looks at you and finds the tears in your eyes, but you smile in spite of the tears, then they discover that, ?Oh, he?s right when he says you must be strong, because many things have happened to him, and he still carries on with the spirit of the music.??

Ladysmith is regarded as a national treasure of the new South Africa in part because they embody the traditions suppressed in the old South Africa.

Line-up:

Joseph Shabalala -lead vocals

Albert Mazibuko - vocals

Sibongiseni Shabalala - vocals

Thamsanqa Shabalala - vocals

Thulani Shabalala - vocals

Msizi Shabalala - vocals

Jockey Shabalala - vocals

Abednego Mazibuko - vocals

Russel Mthembu - vocals

Jabulani Dubazana - vocals

Official Web Site: www.mambazo.com

Inala

Thuthukani Ngoxolo

Zibuyinhlazane

Liphiqiniso

Gospel Album

Star and the Wiseman

In Harmony

Favourites

Live From Royal Albert Hall (2001)

Raise Your Spirit Higher -Wenyukela (Heads Up, 2003)

No Boundaries (Heads Up, 2005)

Videos:

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - In Harmony: Live at the Royal Albert Hall (Shanachie, 1999)

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - On Tip Toe (New Video Group, 2004)

Live at Montreux (Eagle Rock Entertainment, 2005)

Ladysmith Black Mambazo CD reviews:

Some Strings Attached

Ecstatic Voices