Bringing South Africa to the world

Cultural emissaries of South Africa Ladysmith Black Mambazo will deliver their exciting Zulu rhythms and South African traditions in a concert at the the Edmonds Center for the Arts Oct. 12.

For more than 30 years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has married the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. In the mid-1980s, Paul Simon incorporated Black Mambazo’s rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies into his “Graceland” album, a landmark recording that was influential in introducing world music to mainstream audiences.

Since their 1988 Grammy win for Best Traditional Folk Album, the group has scored eight more Grammy nominations and worked with numerous artists from around the world, including Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and Ben Harper, as well as providing soundtrack material for numerous films such as Disney’s “The Lion King, Part II.”

Their 11th and latest CD “Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu” celebrates the great African warrior and leader Shaka Zulu and the overall sense of perseverance, creativity and pride that he inspired in generations of descendants. Each of the tracks speaks to Shaka’s combination of attributes and how they resonate in contemporary society –- not just for South Africans, but for the world in general. From the opening track, “O Mmu Beno Mmu” (“Somebody and Somebody”), the group sings about the inherent benefits of people coming together and working in unison for the greater good. “Kuyafundw’ Osizini” (“Learning from the Obstacles”) sets the story of Shaka Zulu to music, and emphasizes the importance of confronting obstacles, overcoming them and learning from the experience.

The traditional music sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is called Isicathamiya (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya). It was born in the mines of South Africa. Black workers were taken by rail to work far away from their homes and their families. Poorly housed and paid worse, they would entertain themselves, after a six-day week, by singing songs into the early hours every Sunday morning. Cothoza Mfana they called themselves, “tip toe guys”, referring to the dance steps choreographed so as to not disturb the camp security guards. When miners returned to the homelands, the tradition returned with them. There began a fierce, but social, competition held regularly and a highlight of everyone’s social calendar. The winners were awarded a goat for their efforts and, of course, the adoration of their fans. These competitions are held even today in YMCA assembly halls and church basements throughout Zululand South Africa.

In the late 1950’s group founder Joseph Shabalala took advantage of his proximity to the urban sprawl of the city of Durban, allowing him the opportunity to seek work in a factory. Leaving the family farm was not easy, but it was during this time that Joseph first showed a talent for singing. After singing with several groups in Durban he returned to his hometown of Ladysmith and began to put together groups of his own.

He was rarely satisfied with the results. “I felt there was something missing. I tried to teach the music that I felt but I failed, until 1964, when a harmonious dream came to me. I always heard the harmony from that dream and I said ‘This is the sound that I want and I can teach it to my guys.’”

In the early years, Joseph recruited family and friends — brothers Headman, Ben and Jockey, cousins Albert and Abednego Mazibuko, and others. Joseph taught the group the harmonies from his dreams. With time and patience Joseph’s work began to gel into a special sound.

The name Ladysmith Black Mambazo came about as a result of winning every singing competition in which the group entered. “Ladysmith” is the hometown of the Shabalala family; “Black” references the black oxen, considered to be the strongest on the farm. The Zulu word “Mambazo” refers to an ax — symbolic of the group’s ability to “chop down” the competition. So good were they that after a time they were forbidden to enter the competitions but welcomed, of course, to entertain at them.

A radio broadcast in 1970 brought about their first record contract. Since then the group has recorded more than 40 albums, selling over seven million records at home and abroad, establishing themselves as the number one selling group from Africa. Their first album release for the United States, “Shaka Zulu”, was produced by Simon and won the Grammy Award in 1987 for Best Traditional Folk Recording. Since then they have been nominated for a Grammy Award eleven additional times. In 2005 they were awarded their second Grammy Award, for Best Traditional World Music Recording, for the release “Raise Your Spirit Higher.” Their most recent release, “Long Walk To Freedom”, was nominated for two Grammy Awards in 2007.