Its name holds a multilayered message: Ladysmith, the South African hometown of its founders, the Shabalala family; Black, in reference to black oxen; and Mambazo, an ax, which refers to its ability to mow down the competition in every singing contest it entered in its early days.

Now legendary in not only world music circles, but also the art form in general, Ladysmith Black Mambazo makes yet another visit to the midstate for a show Wednesday at Harrisburg's Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. Tickets are $29.50 and are available by calling 214-2787.

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Formed in the 1950s by Joseph Shabalala and including several of his brothers, cousins and now sons through the years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo made its name singing traditional music called "isicathamiya" (pronounced is-cot-A-ME-ya), a repertoire of songs born in the mines of South Africa.

Since 1970, it has released more than 40 albums that have sold more than 6 million copies at home and abroad, including the 1987 Grammy winner "Shaka Zulu," its first U.S. release. The group also was an integral part of the groundbreaking sound of Paul Simon's multimillion-selling "Graceland" album, which won the coveted album of the year Grammy in 1986.

The group has recorded with many other artists, provided music for the soundtracks of films like "Coming to America" and "Cry the Beloved Country" and appeared in the Tony Award-nominated play "The Song of Jacob Zulu" (for which it won a Drama Desk Award for best original score).

Shabalala also created his own musical, "Nomathemba," based on the first song he ever wrote, which had successful runs in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Boston.

A film about the group, "On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom," was nominated for an Academy Award in 2001 and an Emmy in 2002.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed at the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, where then President F.W. de Klerk and Nelson Mandela shared the award and at Mandela's presidential inauguration the following year. Its audiences also have included Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Pope John Paul II.

LBM just won its second Grammy, for best traditional world music album, for "Raise Your Spirit Higher," which held the No. 1 spot on Billboard's World Music charts for several months.

"We are so grateful and proud to have been awarded the Grammy Award this year," Shabalala said on the group's Web site. "It's a humbling moment."

Even South African president Thabo Mbeki praised the group, saying the triumph "makes us all proud to be South Africans."

The group's latest album, "No Boundaries," a collaboration with the English Chamber Orchestra, was released in January.

Shabalala is working to establish the first academy for the teaching and preservation of indigenous South African music and culture in his home country; funds raised during the group's tours help to benefit the school.

For more on Ladysmith Black Mambazo, visit www.mambazo.com.

--KIRA L. SCHLECHTER: 257-4763 or kschlechter@patriot-news.com