When the members of the a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo are home in South Africa you can find them praying together. "We're church people," says 56-year-old Albert Mazibuko, who has been with the group more than 30 years. "We pray together . . . (Prayer) helps us a lot . . . (It) makes you calm . . . (you) can see things clearly."

When Mazibuko and Ladysmith Black Mambazo perform a free concert Saturday night as the opening act of L.L. Bean's Summer Concert Series, you'll find their message is born out of prayer.

The ensemble's sound is a combination of a South African traditional music called isicathamiya (pronounced is-cot-a-ME-ya) and the essence of Christian gospel, but their message is of love, hope and, above all, peace, rather than one representing any particular Christian dogma.

"(We) promote peace," Mazibuko says, "because with peace you can achieve many things in life."

Having lived through South Africa's apartheid, the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo know the effects of peace. "People were killing each other," Mazibuko recalls, "(and they) decided to make peace."

Begun in the 1960s by the group's leader, Joseph Shabalala, the group's musical message had an impact during the days of apartheid. They became a political organ, says Mazibuko, that helped fighting factions come together. "We had a big impact," he says, "to have people sit down and talk."

While the 10-member ensemble had renown in their home country, they gained international recognition when Paul Simon went to South Africa in the 1980s and collaborated with them on his "Graceland" recording. A year later, Ladysmith Black Mambazo won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album for "Shaka Zulu." They have since received six Grammy nominations. Their latest album, "Raise Your Spirit Higher," released this year, spent three weeks at number one on Billboard's World Music Chart.

The album was released in time for the 10th anniversary of the end of apartheid. The music of the album reflects that celebration, while at the same time sending a reminder to people. "We learned in life," says Mazibuko, "when you have a problem - when you try to solve the problem by fighting - it doesn't work. You have to be above the problem."

This group philosophy was severely tested in 2002 when Joseph Shabalala's wife of 30 years was gunned down by a masked gunman in the parking lot of their church in South Africa. No conviction has been made.

The members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who were recording their latest album when the shooting took place, supported Shabalala as best they could.

The last track on the album is a special recording made by Shabalala's grandsons. "They (the grandsons) are expressing themselves," says Mazibuko, "trying to comfort their grandfather."

The short hip-hop song, called "Tribute," admonishes their grandmother's killer but mostly serves to honor their grandmother and support their grandfather, telling him to hold on and reminding him that his wife will always be in his heart.

The beautiful thing about being above something, Mazibuko says, is the wonderful transformation that is brought about. For those who seek to rise above the fray, there is calm. When those who hate or feel they are hated realize that those they are hating send out good will to them, the people filled with hate are filled with wonder and learn to love those they hated.

To hear audio clips from "Raise Your Spirit Higher," go to entertainment.mainetoday.com.

News Assistant Stephanie Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6455 or at:

sbouchard@pressherald.com

IF YOU GO: Ladysmith Black Mambazo When: 7:30 p.m., Saturda Where: L.L. Bean Discovery Park, Route One, Freeport How much: Free IF YOU GO L.L. Bean Summer Concert Series - All concerts are at 7:30 p.m., are free, and are held at L.L. Bean's Discovery Park in Freeport. July 4 - Don Campbell Band July 10 - Livingston Taylor July 17 - Leahy July 24 - Nick Curran and the Nitelifes July 31 - Ennis Sisters August 7 - Josh Kelley August 14 - Lizz Wright August 21 - Edwin McCain August 28 - Wayfaring Strangers August 29 - Jess Tardy September 4 - Altan September 5 - C.J. Chenier