President Thabo Mbeki has praised local music group Ladysmith Black Mambazo on their achievement of another Grammy Award.

The group won in the Best Traditional World Music category for their Raise your spirit higher album at the 47th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles yesterday.

"The people and government of South Africa salute this remarkable group of musicians on their achievement and look forward to being entertained by them for more years to come," said President Mbeki.

"This is the ultimate reward for a group that has entertained our country and millions abroad for more than four decades," he added.

The award is the latest milestone for the group that has sold over six million albums, making it the number one record seller in Africa.

The group has also performed at two Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies, a recent performance for the Pope in Rome, South African Presidential inaugurations, the 1996 Summer Olympics, a Muhammad Ali television special and in many music award shows throughout the world.

In 2002, the group was asked to represent the country in London for a celebration for Queen Elizabeth II's 50th Anniversary as Monarch.

The group has also shared the stage with some of the well-known international musicians such as Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Phil Collins and Sir Paul McCartney.

International success allowed Ladysmith to record in the United States. Their first album on Warner Brothers, Shaka Zulu, won a Grammy.

The group has so far recorded more than forty albums.

-Edwin Tshivhidzo