Thanks to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the delightful, small town of Ladysmith is now more famous for being the South African choral supergroup’s hometown and inspiration than for the Siege of Ladysmith, when Boers besieged the British garrison town for 118 days during the first Anglo-Boer War.
Supergroup’s Roots
The history and sound of this a capella group, arguably the most successful international music act to come out of South Africa, is closely linked to the town where founder and leader Joseph Shabalala was born and still lives today.
Not only did Shabalala name his world-conquering outfit after his hometown; he has gone so far as to say in interviews that without Ladysmith’s inspiration, there would be no Black Mambazo.
“We are inspired by what surrounds us,” Shabalala has said, “and in Ladysmith we are surrounded by God’s glory. If we lived in a big city like Durban or Johannesburg I don’t think we could have created the same kind of music. Our sound is directly linked to the wide open spaces of Natal; in a way we are trying to recreate the beauty of our land in song.”
Sounds and Scenes
Listening to the group’s dynamic sound, while gazing across the rugged grace of the Midlands, will assure you that they have not only tried but succeeded.
Life affirming, joyous, heavenly - these are all adjectives commonly used by ecstatic critics when attempting to describe the heart-stopping, yet simple beauty created by the 10 incredibly gifted Zulu singers that are Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Cultural Ambassadors
Since their formation in the late ‘60s, this group has, more than any other, come to represent the traditional culture of South Africa and are widely regarded as our country’s cultural emissaries both at home and abroad.
Former president Nelson Mandela certainly regards them as such, personally inviting Joseph Shabalala and his crew of sweet-voiced family and friends to perform in Oslo, Norway when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
A year later, during his historical inauguration as the first president of a democratic South Africa, Madiba again asked the kings of Zulu choral music to perform and, naturally, Ladysmith Black Mambazo obliged.
Global Recognition and Demand
Ever since they were introduced to the world at large via their collaboration with Paul Simon on his seminal Graceland album, helping it to become the biggest seller and arguably the best recording of Simon’s career, Ladysmith Black Mambazo have been in demand all over the world.
They have performed with Simon many times since, both on stage and on record, while building an international fan base with sell-out concerts in all corners of the globe including appearances at the 1996 Summer Olympics, Queen Elizabeth’s 50th anniversary celebration and the now famous 46664 Aids Concert in Cape Town.
The group’s two 2007 Grammy nominations, for Best Contemporary World Music CD and Best Surround Sound Production, bring their total Grammy nominations to 12. They received their first Grammy award in 1987 for their album “Shaka Zulu” and their second in 2005 for their CD “Raise Your Spirit Higher”.
Down-to-earth
Most amazingly, though, they have done all this through difficult times and tragedy, remaining as humble and modest as ever, shunning the limelight and the celebrity fame, coming home to Ladysmith as often as their hectic schedule allows and ploughing all their knowledge, expertise and experience in to upholding the musical traditions of the land they so dearly love.
Inspiration to Iscathamiya
Chief amongst those traditions is the music called iscathamiya, born in the mines of South Africa and kept alive to this day by musicians across KwaZulu-Natal.
Black workers, many of them from the Midlands area, forced to find work wherever they could, were taken by rail to toil far away from their homes and their families. With little to do after work, they would entertain themselves by singing songs and dancing.
The celebrations were often so vigorous that the floors of the huts would occasionally be broken and a new form of quieter dance was created, cothoza mfana or “tip-toe guys”. The music became known as tip toe harmony, or iscathamiya.
When the miners returned to their homes, the tradition returned with them and there began a fierce social competition held regularly, which in turn became a highlight of the social calendar. These competitions are still held today in assembly halls and church basements throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
New Expression, New Melodies
But iscathamiya remained largely unknown outside these confines until Ladysmith Black Mambazo formed in 1964. In their soaring bass, alto and tenor harmonies, iscathamiya found new expression and worldwide recognition.
Despite their fame, Shabalala and his group remain deeply rooted to their hometown and, whenever their hectic schedule allows, they return there to recharge their creative batteries and visitors to the city may just hear Joseph trying out new melodies as he wanders through town.
Musical Exhibition
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s contribution to the cultural history of the area is beautifully captured in an exhibition housed in the town’s Siege Museum and Cultural Centre, which also houses a celebration of the area’s other great choral music export, the Drakensberg Boys' Choir.
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Photographs courtesy and copyright of Ladysmith Tourism.