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The Register Guard, Concert Preview >>
Still raising their voices for freedom
By Serena Markstrom
The Register-Guard
Published: Friday, March 24, 2006
Ladysmith Black Mambazo jumped into the American mainstream's consciousness when superstar Paul Simon featured the group on the Grammy-winning album "Graceland."
The singers have since performed for the queen of England and the pope, and during the Nobel Prize and Olympic opening ceremonies. They have won Grammys for their music and garnered critical acclaim for an original musical based on the first song band founder Joseph Shabalala wrote, "Nomathem- ba."
That song is the first track on the new album by the group, which sings in the Isicathamiya style of music born in the mines of South Africa.
Twenty years after that Simon record - which many credit with jolting a dramatic increase in interest in world music - the a cappella group features some of America's pre-eminent talent on its new album, "Long Walk to Freedom."
Guest vocalists include Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Natalie Merchant and Sarah McLachlan. Many of South Africa's most popular singers perform as well.
When reached in his hotel room in Madison, Wis., on a tour stop, original member Albert Mazibuko says the group wanted songs to raise awareness that the same struggles in the world when the group rose to prominence are still present today.
"People are still suffering," he says, speaking specifically of the track "Homeless" that features McLachlan. "We still need to remind people. We went with the feelings of the style of singing. We thought that her voice (would) bring that kind of feeling we would need.
"We want to bring a message that makes you aware: Think of other people, too."
The album is journey through the group's recording and singing career. "We have come so far," Mazibuko says. "We are cele- brating that now it's 20 years since we started to tour around the world."
Members also are celebrating, he says, that it has been 12 years since apartheid ended in South Africa.
"We have seen a lot of changes for the better," he says. "Now we can tour the places we want to perform.
"The freedom is something we enjoy very much. It has been a long way to freedom."
Just about every singer the group asked to be on the album agreed, unless they had scheduling conflicts, Mazibuko says.
"It's a blessing to us," he says.
Member's death casts a shadow
The tour's message is one of hope, peace, love and harmony. But the singers are traveling with a bit of sadness.
Jockey Shabalala, one of the group's original members, died in February at the age of 62. One member of the group departed the tour to attend the funeral in Africa, but everyone agreed Shabalala would have wanted the tour to go on uninterrupted.
"It was very difficult, but we said we couldn't stop," Mazibuko says. "For us to carry on singing it was fulfilling his wish to go around the world and share the music. ...
"America is so good for us, and we are very grateful."
Call Serena Markstrom at 338-2371 or e-mail smarkstrom@ guardnet.com.
CONCERT PREVIEW
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
What: Male a cappella harmony from South Africa
When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: The Shedd, 285 E. BroadwayTickets: All seats sold; standing room $28 at 434-7000 or the box office, 868 High St. 03/24/06 >> go there
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