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Ladysmith Black Mambazo

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Ladysmith Black Mambazo was formed by Joseph Shabalala in 1960. The band’s name came about as a result of their winning every singing competition they entered.

“Ladysmith” is the home town of the Shabalala family. “Black” is a reference to black oxen, which are considered to be the strongest. “Mambazo” is the Zulu word for axe – symbolic of the group’s ability to “chop down” the competition.

The group rose to worldwide prominence as a result of their collaboration with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland.

In 1993, at Nelson Mandela’s request, Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied the future President to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. They sang again at President Mandela’s inauguration in May of 1994. They are a national treasure of the new South Africa, in part because they embody the traditions suppressed in the old South Africa.

The traditional music sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is called isicathamiya and mbube. Isicathamiya was born in the mines of South Africa.

The group performed at the 46664 concert in 2003.

Website: http://www.mambazo.com