Last year, they heated up the capital with their superb sell-out show.  Most recently, they won a Grammy award for Best Traditional World Music Album for “Raise Your Spirit Higher.”  This ten-man Zulu a cappella group, led by Joseph Shabalala, has become synonymous with the legendary South African sound, which first captured wide international acclaim on Paul Simon’s Graceland album in 1986.

The traditional Isicathamiya (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya) music sung by the group was born in the mines of South Africa, and eventually transported back to the homelands by the black workers who began the new musical tradition. The name Ladysmith Black Mambazo came about as a result of winning every singing competition in which the group entered.  Ladysmith is the hometown of Joseph Shabalala’s family; Black makes reference to black oxen, considered to be the strongest on the farm. The Zulu word Mambazo means axe, symbolic of the group’s ability to “chop down the competition”.

Regarded as South Africa’s cultural emissaries at home and around the world, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has become a national treasure of the new South Africa, in part because they embody the traditions suppressed during apartheid. The group has performed together now for more than 30 years, working with such artists as Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and Ben Harper. They have performed for countless special celebrations, including the Pope in Rome, two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, South African Presidential inaugurations, as well as two performances for the Royal Family, including Queen Elizabeth II’s 50^th Anniversary as Monarch.  An event in which they joined with Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Phil Collins and Sir Paul McCartney on the songs, “Hey Jude and All You Need Is Love.”

Tickets are $35 including GST.  Student tickets are limited and available at $28 including GST (with valid Student ID up to 25 years of age).  Tickets can be purchased by calling the Ottawa International Jazz Festival at (613) 241-2633 or visiting the office at 61A York Street (Mon-Fri, 9 am to 4:30 pm) or at CD Warehouse (3 locations).