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Music bridges continents and generations
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Daily Trojan, Music bridges continents and generations >>
When listening to the mainstream music of today that is full of background beats, instrumentals and synthesizers, it is difficult to imagine a return to the basic elements of music where people only have their voices and their bodies.
The harmony of such a naked sound is native to South Africa in the form of isicathamiya.
A form of music that intertwines harmony and dance, isicathamiya is a cultural gem of South Africa and has come to represent its formerly repressed culture.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, an all-male Zulu choral group, is the emblem of this traditional music as well as a beacon of hope for the revitalization of their native culture.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which performs tomorrow in Bovard Auditorium at 7 p.m., has experienced explosive prominence over the course of its 40-year career.
It is one of the leading groups that is increasing awareness of world music.
Even though Ladysmith Black Mambazo is widely known and has spent the last 20 years enthralling audiences around the world, the group has humble beginnings.
The sons of miners, the original members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo would sing for them in order to give the miners some hope.
"When we were growing up, things were hard, and we felt our music was what made us stronger," said Albert Mazibuko, an original member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
"It is all about inspiration. We knew life was difficult for the people around us so we would sing to hearten them."
In 1954 when group leader Joseph Shabalala had a premonition of their future success, he strove to make it a tangible reality by teaching isicathamiya to his family.
In 1985 when Paul Simon traveled to South Africa and met Ladysmith Black Mambazo in a Johannesburg recording studio, the group's aspirations were realized.
After Simon incorporated the traditional sounds of South Africa into his "Graceland" album, Ladysmith Black Mambazo had a meteoric rise.
"South Africa is very rich in music and harmony but it takes an effort to improve it, you must be introduced to someone who can help you," Mazibuko said.
"Paul Simon helped us big time by promoting our cause around the world. We helped him; he helped us. No one is successful if they are working alone."
Since their work with Simon, the group has continued to spread their message of peace, love and harmony, winning two Grammy awards and garnering 12 Grammy nominations.
"There was nothing as big as when we won a Grammy award," Mazibuko said.
"We achieved our hopes when there were so many who didn't."
Despite all of their accomplishments - meeting the Queen of England, working with Michael Jackson, Spike Lee, Disney, Eric Clapton and Sir Paul McCartney - the one occasion they will never forget is when they accompanied Nelson Mandela as he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.
Mazibuko reminisced, "So many things have happened to us, but only one stands out: when we saw Mandela receive the Nobel Peace Prize. To be a part of that was one of the most amazing things in our lifetime."
When asked about how the overarching theme of peace, love and harmony related to the apartheid history of South Africa, Mazibuko replied, "Peace and hope is something that is inside us all. I will always remember when Nelson Mandela told us that our music held great inspiration for him and gave him hope that one day South Africa would be free."
"I was surprised he even listened to our music. We did not realize the message we conveyed meant so much to so many people. When people are suffering, they need something to believe in," he said.
Despite the oppression that characterized South Africa under apartheid, Ladysmith Black Mambazo's music has helped propagate the message of peace and equality throughout South Africa and the world.
The group's ambition for helping South Africa goes beyond just its music; the group also hopes to preserve South African culture through education.
"What we do now is encourage young people to support themselves. We often speak of the Lord's self-help," Mazibuko said.
"In order to help the people of South Africa, we want to teach them to be independent and rely only on themselves. If we all work together, we will be able to achieve."
After listening to "Journey of Dreams" (1988) and "Long Walk to Freedom" (2006), one is taken aback by the sheer intensity of their music.
With no instruments, Ladysmith Black Mambazo was able to produce an incredible harmonious sound that resonates with the distinct beauty of Zulu culture.
"Their music is very basic and raw with rhythms and patterns that you instinctively are moved by," Danielle Jacoby, the marketing director for the USC Spectrum event, said.
"Ladysmith Black Mambazo has such a unique root that they create a spiritual side to music."
The musical style of Ladysmith Black Mambazo is refreshing in a technologically saturated music scene as well as simultaneously advocating culture and tradition.
The group's message transcends race and nationality, and its basic and elemental vocal style is what makes the musicians so universally appealing.
-- by Anita Little 02/25/08 >> go there
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