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3Black Chicks, Review >>
The first time I heard of Ladysmith Black Mambazo was in the mid-1980's, when Paul Simon incorporated their traditional and harmonious trademark sound --isicathamiya (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya -- a Zulu word meaning "to tiptoe") -- into his Grammy award-winning album, Graceland. It wasn't until I actually saw them performing with Paul Simon on television did I understand the importance of their work. I was literally spellbound then, and still am, every time I hear Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing.
But, let me get this off my chest before I go any further. After Paul Simon won the Grammy in 1986 for Album of the Year for Graceland, I stopped listening to his music because I was upset with the fact that another white person earned notoriety and financial gains by again exploiting African culture. I wondered had Ladysmith Black Mambazo written and produced Graceland without Paul Simon, would they have won that same Grammy? We'll never know.
So what does Ladysmith Black Mambazo mean and who are they? Joseph Shabalala is the founder and leader of the group. "Ladysmith" is the name of the Shabalala family's hometown; "Black" refers to the oxen, which is considered the strongest farm animal; and, "Mambazo", is the Zulu word for axe -- symbolic of the group's ability to "chop down" the competition. The members bringing together their bass, alto and tenor synchronization are founder and leader, Joseph Shabalala; and Msizi Shabalala, Russel Mthembu, Albert Mazibuko, Jabulani Dubazana, Thulani Shabalala, Thamsanqa Shabalala, Sibongiseni Shabalala, Jockey Shabalala and Abedengo Mazibuko. [To read their entire bio, go to http://www.mambazo.com/].
Joseph Shabalala says that their music, singing and tradition "must survive and grow." As an example of their growth, Ladysmith Black Mambazo teamed up with The English Chamber Orchestra and released a new classical crossover, 12-track CD, No Boundaries. The creative idea behind this collaboration came from Robert Brooks, the Artistic Director of the International Classical Music Festival (IMCF) of South Africa. When Shabalala was approached to do this project, he said, "Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a mobile academy that teaches the world about Zulu people and culture, about South Africa and all that is wonderful here. . .Why not? After all, our singing is a sort of Zulu classical singing." Brooks then commissioned Isak Roux, a South African-born German pianist and composer, to arrange 12 songs along with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and The English Chamber Orchestra. Those 12 songs are:
1. "Jabulani - Rejoice"
2. "Homeless" - Real Audio Link
3. "Awu Wemadoda"
4. "Amazing Grace"
5. "Dona Nobis Pacem"
6. "Ngingenwe Emoyeni (Wind Of The Spirit Of God)'
7. "Umzuzu Nayi Ujesu"
8. "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring"
9. "Sanctus (Heilig, Heilig, Heilig)"
10. "Ave Verum Corpus"
11. "Lifikile Ivangeli"
12. "Walil' Umtwana (The Child Is Crying)"
No matter how many times I replayed No Boundaries, there were four songs, however, that are absolutely moving and they brought me to tears every time I heard them -- "Homeless"; "Amazing Grace"; J.S. Bach's "Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring"; and Franz Schubert's "Sanctus (Heilig, Heilig, Heilig)," which the liner notes state: "The unusual combination of Zulu male voices and European operatic tenor (here sung by Robert Brooks) enhances the underlying prayerful and mystical quality of this track."
The English Chamber Orchestra is perfectly matched because their accompaniment does not overpower LBM's graceful voices. LBM's call and response technique, along with their familiar chants, tongue-clicks, flutterings, gulps or tribal calls fused with their unison hymn-like voices are what make them a legendary musical powerhouse. I have to admit that it would have been nice to have the lyrics to all the songs so I could fully understand the message behind their words. Despite this fact, No Boundaries is gorgeously performed and profoundly uplifting.
Now, some 40 albums and six Grammy nominations later, this 10-man Zulu a cappella group scored big again at this year's Grammy by winning Best Traditional World Music Album for their CD Raise Your Spirit Higher (Wenyukela). Their successful rise has not come without some hardships or tragedies. In 2002, Joseph Shabalala's beloved wife of 30-years, Nellie Shabalala, was murdered in South Africa. Also, on June 16, 2004, Shabalala's brother, Ben Shabalala, was killed in South Africa. Shabalala said that at the time Nellie was murdered that he tried to take his mind deep into the spirit, because he knew the truth was there. "Bad things happen, and the only thing to do is raise your spirit higher."
Finally, even though I enjoyed the music in Hotel Rwanda, No Boundaries was actually the soundtrack I heard in my head when I saw Hotel Rwanda.
In 1987, my heart did soften toward Paul Simon because that year Ladysmith Black Mambazo won a Grammy for Best Traditional Folk Album for their album, Shaka Zulu, which, of course, was produced by him. Just as pure as Ladysmith Black Mambazo's harmonies are, so were Simon's intentions when he introduced the world to these magnificent musicians. Thank you Paul Simon for bringing Ladysmith Black Mambazo into my life, and thanks Mike Wilpizeski at Heads Up International for this CD!!! 02/21/05 >> go there
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