Singing is the centerpiece of celebration as well as dissent in South Africa.
The people in that nation also sing to express happiness, and when they are lonely, they sing to comfort themselves. Singing is all about sustenance.
"Singing has been my life," said Albert Mazibuko, who sings tenor with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African a cappella group that mixes the traditional musical sounds with Christian gospel sentiments. "It is my breakfast, lunch and dinner and my snack in between. It makes me happy all the time."
Indeed, singing has sustained South Africans, especially during Apartheid when thousands of South African black men were forced to leave their homes to work in the cities and in mines.
Singing helped them persevere in the mines and kept them entertained after each six-day week. When they returned to the homelands, the musical tradition returned with them.
"We equate singing to survival," Mazibuko said. "It provides relief from everyday life. It gives us strength to carry on to achieve things in life."
Joseph Shabalala formed the group in 1960 in Ladysmith, which is in the foothills on the banks of the Klip River near the Indian Ocean.
The group gained international recognition in 1986 singing with Paul Simon on the album "Graceland."
Since then, it has sung with Stevie Wonder, the Winans, George Clinton, Dolly Parton and others.
"We discovered that when it comes to music we are all one people," Mazibuko said.
Saturday, Ladysmith Black Mambazo will bring its musical spiritual relief and nourishment to Herrick Chapel at Grinnell College.
In brightly colored traditional dress, the group will dance and sing about topics such as cleaning up politics, avoiding jealousy and embracing fidelity.
"Encouraging people, inspiring people, advising people and making them happy, it fulfills our lives," Mazibuko said.
With nary an instrument, Ladysmith will fill the chapel with a massive sound of deep, rich tenor/alto/bass harmonies, which intertwine with intricate rhythms. Silky smooth lead vocals will be provided by Shabalala. Vocal clucks and chirps, inspired by ranchers talking to their oxen, provide percussion.
A Ladysmith Black Mambazo concert is an interactive experience. The group uses a call-and-response technique to teach the audience to sing along. Not to mention dancing, which also is encouraged.
"I remember once when I was singing while milking a cow, someone began singing with me in unison," Mazibuko said. "Even if I am singing for myself, someone else can hear and be comforted or inspired by my singing."
-- by J. Sharpe Smith
02/07/08 >> 
