Ladysmith Black Mambazo's old and new songs of freedom

By Chet Williamson

When Albert Mazibuko talks about singing with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, an unmistakable quality of wonder envelops each word.

"I am happy that I am part of the group and what I have experienced," he says. "It's a fulfillment. The music developed me."

Mazibuko joined the ranks of the legendary South African a cappella ensemble in 1969. This was at a time when his country was in the vice grip of apartheid and Ladysmith was bearing witness every day to its racial inequality. No matter, when the group's founder Joseph Shabalala called, Mazibuko was ready to enlist. 

"He said, ‘Brother, my grandmother sent me to you in a dream, saying that you will help me with this,'" Mazibuko recalls. "I accepted the challenge. I was very happy that I had something that I could dedicate my life to."

Shabalala's dreams must have been gargantuan. Founded in the early 1960s, Ladysmith has since traveled the world lifting their collective voices in songs of peace. They are best known in this country for their groundbreaking performance on Paul Simon's landmark 1986 album, Graceland. In their more than 40 years together, Ladysmith have become cultural ambassadors with star power, winning Grammy Awards, sharing stages with the likes of Paul McCartney, and receiving invitations to perform in front of queens and presidents.

By combining native rhythms, harmonies and South African cultural connections with gospel music, Ladysmith presented a unique musical and spiritual alchemy from its inception. The traditional music sung by the group is called isicathamiya, born in the mines of South Africa where poorly paid black workers entertained themselves by singing. They called themselves Cothoza Mfana, or "tip-toe guys," because they were light on their feet when they danced, so the camp security guards would not be disturbed.

The group takes its name from three different sources: Ladysmith is the name of Shabalala's hometown; Black refers to oxen, the most powerful of all farm animals; and Mambazo is the Zulu word for "axe," a symbol of the group's ability to "chop down" any singing rival who might challenge them vocally. Being so good, rumor has it that they were banned from local and regional competitions and only allowed to perform as entertainers.

When not touring the world, all eight members of Ladysmith still live within a 30-mile radius of one another in South Africa. Mazibuko, who lives in Durban, says he divides his non-performance time between preaching — he is an ordained minister — and education.

"I do workshops in schools," he says. "We are very happy to learn that people have been inspired by our music — from when they were fighting for their freedom and even now. They say we are an inspiration to them."

Mazibuko is also helping to build an academy in South Africa that will document native Zulu culture.

"We feel that it is not only our country that is losing the culture and folk music," he says. "It's all over, especially now. We feel that by doing this we will be able to preserve and promote the music. If we have a place we will be able to collect the information from the people who still know it. We will record it."

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is currently touring in support of its latest disc, Long Walk to Freedom, a celebration of songs from the group's storied career sung in English and Zulu, featuring contemporary pop artists such as a Melissa Etheridge, Sarah McLachlan and Natalie Merchant.

Check out a music clip from the disc at http://telmedia.telarc.com/ramgen/headsup/VIDEO/HalalaforRM.rm. o