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Review
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The Mirror, Review >>
Judging by Anna Neale's vintage clothes and occasional horned rim glasses, you might expect to find her listening to the new Bright Eyes record or planning a road trip to see Modest Mouse in St. Louis.
Think again. The Drury sophomore listens to a group she considers much cooler than any indie-hipster band--- South Africa's Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
And unlike most cool musicians, they'll be performing in Springfield next week.
"They have such a distinctive sound that we never get to hear in American pop culture," Neale said.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been South Africa's most popular vocal group for more than 30 years and has released more than 40 albums. Most of us were in preschool when Ladysmith Black Mambazo recorded "Homeless" and "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" for Paul Simon's 1986 hit album, "Graceland," regarded by many as seminal to today's explosive interest in World Music.
Since then, Ladysmith has sold more than 6 million records worldwide, and recorded with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney and Ben Harper.
On tour now, Mambazo is focusing more on music from 2004's Raise Your Spirit Higher, a celebration of a decade of democracy in South Africa. As important a role as the group played in rallying opposition to racial oppression, Mambazo has helped give voice to the resurgent spirit of South Africa in the post-apartheid era. Ending apartheid, of course, was only the start of the challenge.
Rebuilding a society systematically impoverished and undereducated has proven to be a daunting undertaking. At every concert, the group sells South African crafts and accepts donations for the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Foundation, a charity founded to train music teachers.
So what do they sound like?
Ladysmith Black Mambazo has revolutionized traditional South African a cappella singing with its own distinct version of "isicathamiya", the uplifting, spiritual song created by Zulu mine workers during the time of apartheid in South Africa.
Neale may not be able to translate their lyrics, but she knows what they're singing about-she knows exactly what they're singing about.
"Listening to their music is a powerful experience," Neale said. "Even ifyou don't know their lyrics, you'll understand what they're communicating.
"They are fun to watch, too. Ladysmith's unique dance steps are rooted in an old African tradition from Zulu mine workers.
This could be Springfield's best non-required GP21 cultural experience this year--so don't skip it.
-Jason N Linder 02/18/05 >> go there
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