The Recording Academy has acknowledged Ladysmith black Mambazo's worldwide popularity and musical genius, nominating them for two Grammy Awards for their album 'Raise Your Spirits Higher'.

The KwaZulu-Natal singing troupe have been nominated for Best Traditional World Music Album and Best Surround Sound Album.

The 47th Annual Grammy Awards will be screened live on Channel O on 14 February at 3:00am and on M-Net at 7:00pm.

First introduced to a worldwide audience by their guest appearance on Paul Simon's 'Graceland' album, on the track 'Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes', Ladysmith Black Mambazo's music was hailed immediately as a breakthrough in transcending geographical, cultural and racial barriers.

Their first album release for the United States, Shaka Zulu, was produced by Simon and won the Grammy Award in 1987 for Best Traditional Folk Album.

Since then they have been nominated for a Grammy Award six more times, including a nomination in 2001 for the album 'Live From Royal Albert Hall'.

A documentary film titled 'On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps To Freedom', which is the story of Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Short Documentary Film in 2001, and for American television's Emmy Award in 2002 for Best Cultural Documentary.

In 1995 Joseph and Ladysmith Black Mambazo collaborated in the staging of 'Nomathemba', a musical based on the first song ever written by Shabalala. 'Nomathemba' premiered in Chicago where the group once more received unanimous praise for their work and were awarded Chicago Theatre's highest honour for Original Musical Score.

Joseph's appointment as an associate professor of ethnomusicology at the University of Natal as well as a teaching position with UCLA in California, has broadened his horizons.

"It's just like performing," said Shabalala, "You work all day, correcting the mistakes, encouraging the young ones to be confident in their action. And if they do not succeed I always criticise myself. I am their teacher. They are willing to learn. But it is up to me to see they learn correctly."

Ladysmith Black Mambazo have managed to maintain their high profile with the release of 'Raise Your Spirit Higher'.

"It was with great satisfaction and much excitement that we learned that our 2004 release was nominated for a Grammy Award not once but twice," said Shabalala.

"All of us with the group would like to send our great appreciation to everyone who made this CD the continued success that it is."