Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They became known internationally after singing with American Paul Simon on his 1986 album Graceland. They have since won multiple awards, including five Grammy Awards the fifth of which they dedicated to the late former South African President Nelson Mandela.
Mbube is a form of South African vocal music, made famous by the South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The word mbube means "lion" in Zulu. Traditionally performed a cappella, the members of the group are male, although a few groups have a female singer. In this form, groups of voices singing homophonically in rhythmic unison are employed to create intricate harmonies and textures.
Bhekizizwe Joseph Shabalala was a South African singer and musician who was the founder and musical director of the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Thamsanqa Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph. He replaced Joseph as the group's lead singer after his father's retirement in 2015.
Thulani Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph.
Msizi Innocent Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph Shabalala.
Mdletshe Albert Mazibuko is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his cousin Joseph.
Headman Msongelwa Shabalala was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded by his brother Joseph.
This is a near-complete list of recordings made by the South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
The Very Best of Ladysmith Black Mambazo – Rain, Rain, Beautiful Rain is a 2-disc compilation album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released in the United Kingdom in November 2004, to coincide with the group's tour of the UK that month.
Amaqhawe was the 7th studio release by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The album included songs such as "Ngi Boniseleni", which was later re-recorded as "Yibo Labo" on the album Shaka Zulu. Ben Shabalala Funokwakhe Mazibuko Abednego Mazibuko Headman Shabalala Enoch Shabalala Albert Mazibuko Milton Mazibuko Joseph Shabalala Russell Mthembu Fikile Groonwell Khumalo Jockey Shabalala Patrick Zondo Jabulani Dubazana
Ilembe is a 2007 album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released on 26 February 2007 and did not feature collaborations, and was simply "Ladysmith Black Mambazo at its best", as the Gallo press release for the anticipated release put it. It was re-released in 2008 with the title Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu.
Inkazimulo is an album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The members who sang in the Inkazimulo album were Joseph Shabalala Inos Phungula Albert Mazibuko Headman Shabalala Jabulani Dubazana Russell Mthembu Geophrey Mdletshe Abednego Mazibuko Jockey Shabalala Ben Shabalala. It was released in 1985 and was a primarily religious release. The album was recorded a year before the group's collaboration with Paul Simon on his Graceland album and tour.
Ibhayibheli Liyindlela is an album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released in 1984 and was a religious release focusing on songs such as "Ujesu Wami" and "Ibhayibheli Lami". The album was recorded on March 7, 1984, and released on March 26 of that year. The members who sang in the Ibhayibheli Liyindlela album were Albert Mazibuko Funokwakhe Mazibuko Ben Shabalala Jockey Shabalala Fikile Groonwell Khumalo Abednego Mazibuko Joseph Shabalala Milton Mazibuko Headman Shabalala Patrick Zondo Russell Mthembu Jabulani Dubazana
Ushaka is a 1977 album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The members who sang in the Ushaka album were Ben Shabalala Jockey Shabalala Patrick Zondo Jabulani Dubazana Fikile Groonwell Khumalo Funokwakhe Mazibuko Milton Mazibuko Albert Mazibuko Joseph Shabalala
Umthombo Wamanzi is an album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The album was recorded in May 1982, and released the next month. Whilst the group's previous output had been, for the most part, entirely composed by lead singer and founder Joseph Shabalala, Umthombo Wamanzi contained primarily traditional Zulu hymns re-arranged by Shabalala, such as "Uzube Nami Baba" and "Ungikhumbule". The members who sang in the Umthombo Wamanzi album were Abednego Mazibuko Jockey Shabalala Albert Mazibuko Jabulani Dubazana Headman Shabalala Fikile Groonwell Khumalo Russell Mthembu Joseph Shabalala.
"Homeless" is a 1986 song by Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo lead singer Joseph Shabalala.
Always With Us is a 2014 album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The album, released on 15 January 2014, is a tribute to the life of the group's matriarch Nellie Shabalala (1953-2002), the late wife of Mambazo leader Joseph Shabalala. It is also only the second album in the group's 50-year career to feature female Zulu vocalists singing alongside the male members.
Two Worlds One Heart is an album by the South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, released in 1990. The first single was "Township Jive", which the group had performed on the Graceland tour.
Journey of Dreams is an album by the South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, released in 1988. Journey of Dreams also served as the title of a film about frontman Joseph Shabalala, directed by David Lister and shot around the same time. Shabalala chose the title in part to describe his journey from his birthplace of Ladysmith to international success. It also refers to his desire to get the sound he heard in his dreams on to record. The album was nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best Traditional Folk Recording". The group supported it with North American tour.
