For more than a half century, the world has been blessed with the hauntingly beautiful voices of South Africa’s iconic singing group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The Grammy-winning Zulu-based ensemble—known for their distinct isicathamiya style of singing which combines powerfully strident vocals with intricate harmonies and dynamic coordinated dance moves— exploded onto the world scene as guest stars on Paul Simon’s Graceland record, and went on to release over 50 acclaimed records of their own.

For 60 years, South Africa’s five-time Grammy Award winners, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has warmed the hearts of audiences worldwide with uplifting vocal harmonies, signature dance moves and charming onstage banter. The late former South African President Nelson Mandela designated the group “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors to the world,” a title the members carry with them with the highest honor. In 2018 the group received not one but two Grammy Award nominations for two separate albums, a first in the history of World Music. These two nominations brought their career total to 19 Grammy Award nominations. One of these albums, Shaka Zulu Revisited, won Best World Music Album. This was the group’s fifth Grammy Award win, the most for any World Music group. In 2019, Ladysmith Black Mambazo collaborated for the third time with the famed Steppenwolf Theatre Company on a production entitled Lindiwe and released an album with songs from the show.

Despite the recent passing of founder Joseph Shabalala, Ladysmith remains as vibrant and powerful as ever. Formed in the early ‘60s, Ladysmith Black Mambazo (“Ladysmith” is Shabalala’s hometown, “mambazo” means “axe”) developed a regional following in their native KwaZulu Natal. By the late ‘70s, they were the most popular singing group in the country, with gold- and platinum-selling records and sold-out concerts. When they appeared on Paul Simon’s landmark Graceland album in 1986, they became international stars resulting in endless tour dates and a record contract with Warner Bros, which released their Grammy-winning album Shaka Zulu in 1988. Over the course of their career Ladysmith Black Mambazo would go on to receive fifteen more nominations, winning four times. They have released more than 50 records, including 2017’s Songs of Peace and Love which was nominated for a Grammy.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has performed for millions of people, singing a message of peace, love and harmony. With their 2024 release, Soothe My Soul…Songs From Our South African Church, the group puts their own spin on gospel music.

Website: https://mambazo.com/home