Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

The town of Ladysmith holds home to a group that over the past thirty has greatly contributed to the spread of world music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has to its name the proud title of creating and recording forty albums and selling almost six million records at home and abroad. Behind the music that Ladysmith contributes to the world, they have a message of "peace, love, and harmony." Taj Mahal who recently worked with Ladysmith on their last album states that "The tendency of music from oppressed people is to be pretty dark and melancholy, but this group refused to let the spirit of their music veer in that direction. They've always chosen the high road." Furthermore, they are also viewed as "cultural embesseries" around the world representing their traditional culture of South Africa wherever they travel or perform.

The beginning of Ladysmith goes back to its founder Joesph Shabala. As a singer, Joseph was brought up with the long standing native South African style of singing known as iscthmiya. The iscthmiya style of singing is a significant a Zulu acapella style associated with the original form of mbube. Mbube is usually performed forcefully and loudly, whereas isathmyia is said to be performed "on tip toes" with focus on harmonies. This style goes back as early as the 20th century, and is originated in the South African mines. Black workers, away from there families would perform this style of singing every Saturday night. Therefore, it was often referred to as "tip toe guys" because their dancing was purposefully constructed as to not disturb the security guards. This style of music was carried on once they returned home, and the social competitions where continued and still performed today.

Joseph was first picked by an established singing group in his area, the Durban Choir. Although Joseph found himself fitting in very well to the male choir group, and finding much success in pleasing audiences by performing with them. During this time he found himself composing, and was soon created a piece entitled Nomathemba. With his new work, Joseph soon left the group in order to find those who would sing his music.

Joseph soon went back his hometown of Ladysmith and formed his own group there, Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the year of 1964. The members of the group were relatives (mostly brothers and cousins) of Joseph, with many having sung with Joseph while he was growing up on the farm where he was born. As the leader he began teaching them important practice of "blending harmonies and rythms."

Joseph said that the creation of Ladysmith was actually based upon a real dream his. Joseph claims that in his earlier compositions he "felt that there was something missing...I tried to teach the music that I felt, but failed until 1964, when a harmonious dream came to me". Once Joseph awoke he realized that "this is the sound I want and I can teach it to my guys". Through years of rehearsing and performing Ladysmith Black Mambazo soon made themselves well known in the local area. In the tradition of the iscathymia style of music, the different performing groups thrive on that of competition. Interestingly, the name of Ladysmith Black Mambazo stands for the group's hometown of the shabala family, the term mambas means that of "axe" meaning that they would take down there competition. Futhermore, the black refers to the strength of the group due to the fact because of the strong farm animal of the black oxen. Ladysmith Black Mambazo held true to their name, and soon every competition Ladysmith entered, they ended up coming out victorious.

Ladysmith began their route to professional success through that of Radio Zulu in 1967, roughly three years after their original conception. This popular radio station involved that of West Nksoki, who is the producer of Gallo Records. Five year later the group was picked up by this particular record company, the company that the group has stayed with up until present day. The first album that was produced was entitled Amabutho which included the tracks Nomathemba and Nkosi Yamakhosi which in English stand for hope and Lords of Lords. This album was Ladysmith's first impact on music history, by achieving gold status after selling over 40,000 records, which at that point in time they were the first black group to achieve such fame. Over the next decade, Ladysmith followed up this album with more religious tones in their music, and began touring in Europe.

Ladysmith made their impact on the expansion of world music in 1986 by working with Paul Simon on the well known album Graceland. Paul Simon heard a bootleg recording of the group, and found himself moved by the "stirring sound of bass, alto and tenor harmonies". The two major tracks of this album involves "Homeless" and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her shoes" combine Joseph's shabala with Paul Simon's lyrics.

emoboysrhot27: The release of Graceland achieved attention not only based on the musical success, but was to some extent controversial politically due to the fact that this album went against the "cultural boycott" at the time. The release of it attracted criticism from anti apartheid organizations that saw the album going against the boycott at the time, a crucial component of the sanctions against the apartheid regime then in control of South Africa. However, there where