In celebration of Africa Month, the Grammy award-winning isicathamiya group will kick off their tour on 24 May, to celebrate their roots.
The five-time Grammy Award winners, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Picture: Supplied
JOHANNESBURG – The legendary a capella choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo has announced their SA Legacy tour.
The five-time Grammy winners will kick off their tour on 24 May at the Joburg Theatre to celebrate Africa Month, specifically commemorating Africa day on 25th.
“Ladysmith Black Mambazo is celebrating Africa Month because our music is deeply rooted in African culture and heritage. Our entire South African tour is about celebrating Africa’s and our own group’s roots and origins,” said group member Sibongiseni Shabalala, whose father started the group.
Gear up for a must-see this Africa Month!! The @therealmambazo is back at the iconic Mandela Stage. Tickets are now available at: https://t.co/S94bVLnVlx #ladysmithblackmambazo #africamonth pic.twitter.com/y73wWdc80C
‘ Joburg Theatre (@joburgtheatre) May 6, 2023
Four years ago, Ladysmith Black Mambazo launched the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy, which discovers and develops young aspiring groups who sing isicathamiya and indigenous music.
As part of the Legacy Tour, they have invited three groups from the academy to perform with them.
“Three of the groups we discovered have toured with Ladysmith Black Mambazo on its international tours. Each night of the South African tour we will have Mzamo Young Boys (KwaZulu-Natal), Mohlakeng Accapellas ( Free State) , Bothshaelo Sunrise (Free State), and Good News (Mpumalanga) performing,” said Shabalala.
Whilst in each city, Ladysmith Black Mambazo will also visit schools to motivate them and do a music masterclass.
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Joseph Shabalala created the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the 1960s. They sing a musical style called isicathamiya, a kind of a capella singing that uses only voices. It features close harmonies and many voices blending different notes at once, and includes hand movements and tight choreography.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, Ladysmith Black Mambazo established themselves as a successful singing group in South Africa. In the mid-1980s, the American singer/songwriter Paul Simon visited South Africa and incorporated the group’s rich harmonies into his famous _Graceland _album, a landmark recording that was considered crucial in introducing world music to mainstream audiences.
“South African audiences were the first to endorse the success of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. From humble beginnings, the group broke records by being the top-selling music group in South Africa in the late 70s and 80s. The overwhelming support from South African audiences and neighbouring countries paved the way for Ladysmith Black Mambazo to showcase their music globally,” said Shabalala.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at Durban’s Playhouse from 26 September until 1 October. Cape Town’s Artscape hosts them from the 14 – 19 November, and in December, they will be at Pretoria’s State Theatre, from the 15th to the 17th.
“Performing at home is very special, because the social issues of South Africa inspired the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo during the dark days of apartheid till now. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a mirror of South African Society. The South African national tour aims to reconnect with local audiences, and celebrate the legacy of the group since it was established,” said Albert Mazibuko, who has been with the group since it began.
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