Legends can be a powerful force. The South African warrior Shaka

Zulu lived 200 years ago but his name— and his life— remain revered.
Shaka Zulu is remembered as the person who consolidated the Zulu people into a military force in the early 19th century.

So he's not only considered a great warrior but a great leader.

"At that time there were many chiefs. He said it makes our people weaker to have small groups. So he combined all the people and we became stronger and one big nation," Albert Mazibuko, a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo said.

The famous Grammy-winning a cappella ensemble recently released the CD "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu."

"His life is an inspiration to everyone," Mazibuko said.

Mazibuko said his legacy has also been as a model for meeting life's challenges.

He recalled that when he was a young boy he had to fill in for his ill father and help his mother cultivate the fields. Another job he had as a young man was to look after a herd of cattle, especially in the naming and training of the calves.

"For all of these things you need to be very courageous," Mazibuko said, "and for these challenges Shaka Zulu was an inspiration.

"And as an adult whatever I face in life, I tell myself I am Shaka Zulu's warrior so I won't be defeated."

Mazibuko thinks that he and other members of Ladysmith— all are Zulu— have conjured the memory of the iconic warrior to persevere, to create and to feel pride in their careers as touring musicians.

"We use our voices as a weapon to pave our way," he said, "and our voices will be the weapon to achieve whatever we want to achieve by combining our voices and make them powerful."

Some songs on the CD, he said, offer encouragement to young people "to believe in themselves, to stay out of trouble, to not give excuses."

By: David Steinberg