Internationally acclaimed choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo have become accustomed to bagging Grammy awards and rubbing shoulders with the world's most famous performers.
But a most recent music accolade - their fifth Grammy for their latest album Shaka Zulu Revisited - holds particular significance for the isicathamiya singers.
This time they went it alone without the inimitable talent of their founder Joseph Shabalala, 76, who is living out his golden years in his hometown of Ladysmith.
His sons believe that their latest win is testimony that the world is ready to recognise the group without their legendary father.
"We are very excited and happy about this Grammy," said Thulani Shabalala.
"Since my father retired, this album was kind of a test - testing our leadership, that of myself and my brothers - to see if we can still continue his legacy.
"This Grammy means that we are also accepted by the world, even without our father. It's amazing."They have dedicated the Grammy to Joseph, who officially retired three years ago.
"He's OK but he is old ... he has aches and pains. He's at that stage now," Thulani said.
It was the group's US-based business manager, Mitchell Goldstein, who encouraged them to make new music and reinvent their old hits for the latest album.
"We redid some of the Graceland songs that won us our first Grammy and was produced by Paul Simon," Thulani said.
On the night of the Grammys, which were held in New York in January, Ladysmith Black Mambazo were entertaining their fans in Los Angeles.
"We were in Berkeley, Los Angeles, but the awards were in New York. We sent one of my brothers to represent us."
When the news broke that they had won in the best world music category, the audience erupted in applause.
"When we got the news that we won, we were on stage performing, I think we were doing our fourth song. We didn't know the audience was also waiting for the news.
"Everybody was hugging, we stopped performing for five or 10 minutes. It was crazy. We don't know whether we deserve it, but we are just glad we got this one."Next up is a performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Saturday when the group will join other musicians in a concert marking Queen Elizabeth's 92nd birthday.
At the queen's request they will perform Homeless, the track from Graceland that became famous around the world.
The oldest member of the group, 70-year-old Albert Mazibuko, said the group had not forgotten the debt they owed their South African fans.
He said local supporters had opened their hearts, homes and purses to the group after they began singing on a full-time basis in 1973.
"Many times people have asked how we feel about being more appreciated overseas than in South Africa," Mazibuko said.
"No, we are more appreciated at home. Since 1973 we never got a pay cheque working for somebody else. We have been working for South Africa. Joseph has kept us humble and hard-working over the years."
AN AXE TO THEIR RIVALS..