It's been a decade since South Africa finally threw off the tyrannical yoke of apartheid. But Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the singing group who gave voice to the hopes of those who suffered under that rule, know their work is far from over.

The world is still troubled, and South Africa is going through a period of immense change. And the title of Ladysmith's new album, "Raise Your Spirit Higher," plainly states the group's ultimate goal, performing songs like "Music Knows No Boundaries" and "Black Is Beautiful."

Western ears likely first heard the group when they served as Paul Simon's heavenly chorus on his 1986 album "Graceland." But leader Joseph Shabalala formed the group back in the early 1960s with the idea of fusing gospel music with the traditional Zulu music that workers would sing while working in Africa's mines and fields.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform at the Madison Civic Center's Oscar Mayer Theatre, 211 State St., at 7:30 p.m. Monday. Tickets are $24 and $18 and available through the civic center box office, 258-4141, or through Ticketmaster.

Albert Mazibuko, who has been a member of Ladysmith for 35 years, spoke with The Capital Times:

How did you become a member of the group?

I was very fortunate. In 1967, my brother and I wanted to join the group, but some of the members said "No, we're too many. We don't need any more members."

But Joseph Shabalala was very nice to us, because he knew us. He said, "OK, we'll see what you can do." So he auditioned us, and he started this song that everyone knows how to sing, and then we sang it very beautifully. And then he told us to come and practice with us. But we felt that we were not welcomed by the other members.

Fortunately, in 1969, Joseph showed up at the place where we were living at that time. It was in the morning on Sunday. We were very happy to see him. He said, "I came here to ask you to join us. In fact, I was sent here by my dream. I dreamed of my grandmother, who told me that I must come and sing with you." So we were very happy and very excited.

How important a part has music played in your life?

The music itself is something that, when I grew up, was all over the place. We grew up on the farm, and so people were singing while they were plowing and driving the oxen, cultivating the land. The music was giving them the strength to do things.

What effect do you think your music has had on people in South Africa over the years?

One thing I've discovered about music is that it gives people hope when things are tough. It comforts people and encourage people, and it gives them the energy to do whatever they need to do.

It's amazing, because when we sang we didn't know that so many people had benefited from our music. When people who were in exile came back to South Africa, every one of them said they were playing our music in their camps. Even those in jail said they were playing our music, and it gave them hope. In that case, that encouraged me a lot in what I've done. Even now, I know what we do is going to impact the people.

Now that apartheid is finished, do you think your group still inspires people?

That hasn't changed, but the message itself has changed, because the times are changing. Before, the people were fighting apartheid, but now people have to fight poverty, they have to fight the disease. They have to become more creative, because there are more opportunities out there, but some people don't even see them. They need somebody to open their eyes and see that everything is in front of you, and you can do more than what you are doing now.

What do you enjoy about being in the group?

I enjoy very much working with the young people. There's something wonderful about how the new generation and the old generation are so different. They've got a lot to learn, and then we have something to learn from them. It's encouraging me a lot what is happening in the group. It is something that could be an example for the whole world, that people of different ages can do something wonderful when they come together.

What do you think South Africa's future holds?

It depends on the people of South Africa. They can make the country wonderful if they want to. I think we're very fortunate in South Africa. We've got different cultures, and the people, if they come together and work, they can achieve so much.

We are very fortunate to have somebody like Nelson Mandela, because there was a time when those different political organizations would quarrel and fight. When Nelson Mandela came out from jail, he was a wonderful peacemaker. He is the one who saved South Africa from the bloodshed that other African nations suffered. Even now, he's influencing everybody.