Ladysmith Black Mambazo
South African male choral group known for isicathamiya and mbube.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African male choral group that sings in the indigenous vocal traditions of isicathamiya and mbube. Their international breakthrough came from working with American musician Paul Simon on his 1985 album *Graceland*. Over their career, they have collected numerous honors, among them five Grammy Awards—the fifth of which was dedicated to the memory of former South African President Nelson Mandela.
The group was founded in 1960 by Joseph Shabalala. Its first incarnation, called "Ezimnyama" ("The Black Ones"), consisted of Shabalala’s relatives, mostly brothers and cousins who had sung with him on the farm where he grew up. Though they performed well in the cothoza mfana ("tiptoe boys") style—a 1960s term for isicathamiya, the traditional music of the Zulu people—they remained unknown outside the Ladysmith district.
In 1964, Shabalala experienced a series of recurring dreams over six months, in which a choir sang in perfect harmony. He found this sound beautiful and beyond what his group had yet achieved. He then reformed the group, bringing in younger relatives, and taught them the harmonies from his dreams. This led to the creation of their signature tune, "Nomathemba" (a girl’s name meaning "hope"). Satisfied that the new lineup could replicate the soft, beautiful sounds from his dreams, Shabalala entered the group into isicathamiya competitions held on Saturday nights in hostel halls in Durban and Johannesburg. They won nearly every competition. Shabalala then changed the group’s name to "Ladysmith Black Mambazo" to better reflect their talent. The name combines his family’s hometown of Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal; the black ox, considered the strongest farm animal; and *mambazo*, the Zulu word for "axe," symbolizing the choir’s ability to "chop down" the competition.
By the early 1970s, the group was banned from competing because of their repeated victories, though they were still allowed to perform. In 1967, they began recording for the SABC station Radio Zulu, appearing on DJ Alexius Buthelezi’s popular *Cothoza Mfana* programme, which featured local choirs. Their success attracted music producers, and in 1972 they signed with Gallo Record Company under producer West Nkosi at the Mavuthela Music Company.
- Formed
- 1960
- Founder
- Joseph Shabalala
- Origin
- Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Genre
- Isicathamiya, mbube
- Nationality
- South African
- Known for
- Collaboration with Paul Simon on *Graceland*; five Grammy Awards
Lore & Background
The group was first formed as 'Ezimnyama' by Joseph Shabalala in December 1960, consisting of relatives. After a series of recurring dreams over six months in 1964 featuring a choir singing in perfect harmony, Shabalala reformed the group with younger relatives and taught them the harmonies, creating the signature tune 'Nomathemba'. The group entered isicathamiya competitions and won nearly every one, leading Shabalala to rename them 'Ladysmith Black Mambazo'—combining his hometown, the black ox, and the Zulu word for 'axe' to symbolize their ability to 'chop down' competition. By the early 1970s, they were forbidden to compete due to their continual success.
In 1967, they began recording for SABC station Radio Zulu, and in 1972 signed with Gallo Record Company. Their first album, *Amabutho* (1973), received gold status, the first by a black musician or group in South Africa. After Shabalala converted to Christianity in 1976, religious material entered their repertoire. In 1981, the apartheid government allowed them to travel to Cologne, Germany, for a folk music festival. In 1985, Paul Simon contacted Shabalala, leading to recordings for *Graceland* in London, including 'Homeless', 'Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes', and 'You Can Call Me Al'. The album was released in 1986 and sold 16 million copies.
After *Graceland*, Simon produced their US debut *Shaka Zulu* (1987), which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Recording in 1988. The group appeared in Michael Jackson's movie *Moonwalker* (1988) and on *Sesame Street*. In 1993, Nelson Mandela called them 'South Africa's cultural ambassadors', and they accompanied him to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo. They sang at Mandela's inauguration in May 1994.
Reader's Guide
Ladysmith Black Mambazo's significance lies in their role as a mobile academy of South African cultural heritage through their indigenous isicathamiya music. They became one of South Africa's most prolific musical groups, with releases receiving gold and platinum honors both in South Africa and abroad. Their collaboration with Paul Simon on *Graceland* broke them to an international audience and paved the way for other African acts to gain Western popularity. The group's five Grammy Awards, the fifth of which they dedicated to Nelson Mandela, underscore their enduring impact. Despite accusations of breaking the cultural boycott of South Africa, their music helped introduce isicathamiya and mbube to the world, and they continue to tour globally for six or more months each year.
Did You Know?
- The group's name 'Mambazo' means 'axe' in Zulu, symbolizing their ability to 'chop down' the competition.
- Their first album *Amabutho* (1973) was the first album by a black musician or group in South Africa to receive gold status.
- Joseph Shabalala composed the Zulu introduction and main body of the song 'Homeless' from Paul Simon's *Graceland*.
- Nelson Mandela publicly stated that the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo were 'South Africa's cultural ambassadors'.
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