Ladysmith Black Mambazo have been in existence for six decades and they don't plan on stopping any time soon.
“When my father started with Bab Mazibuko, their dream was to promote our culture all over the world and put the music on a world stage. At the time they were only in Ladysmith. They never thought that they would travel, not to Cape Town not Botswana, but all over the world. With the compositions over the years, and with their dedication, it's made a very big difference and opened the gate for South African music to be recognised all over the world,” Sibongiseni Shabalala told TshisaLIVE.
Four years ago, the group launched The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy, which saw them travel to South Africa's provinces to find and develop young aspiring artists.
“In 1988 my father had a dream of building a school for all the indigenous music where it can be taught and preserved for generations to come. That dream did not materialise while he was alive,” Sibongiseni said.
“In 2018, we started to establish the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy, going all around the country to all the provinces talking to young people, and teaching them about their culture, telling them about the importance of knowing who you are. Along the way, we were able to get new talent. We groomed them and put them in the studio. Now we are putting them on stage.”
Some groups now share the stage with Ladysmith Black Mambazo at international shows and on this South African Legacy Tour.
At the Durban Playhouse the music group showcased talent they discovered in KwaZulu-Natal, namely Africa Mamas from Durban, Umzamo Young Boys from Pietermaritzburg and Inkinzemnyama from Umsinga.
“It would be a big struggle for us if they were not there. When you have a son, you have a big helper. You stretch yourself and you reach where you would have not been able to reach without them,” Albert Mazibuko said about the importance of working with younger artists.
LISTEN | Ladysmith Black Mambazo on legacy show and empowering young artists
Image: SANDILE NDLOVU
While on their Legacy Tour, the legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo brought their beautiful isicathamiya sounds to the Durban Playhouse for the KwaZulu-Natal leg.
Later this year the show will run in Cape Town at The Artscape Theatre on November 18 and 19, and the final leg of the tour will be at Pretoria's State Theatre from December 14 to 17.
The five-time Grammy award-winning group joined TshisaLIVE at our Johannesburg offices recently to chat about their journey in music, and more.
LISTEN BELOW:
Ladysmith Black Mambazo have been in existence for six decades and they don't plan on stopping any time soon.
“When my father started with Bab Mazibuko, their dream was to promote our culture all over the world and put the music on a world stage. At the time they were only in Ladysmith. They never thought that they would travel, not to Cape Town not Botswana, but all over the world. With the compositions over the years, and with their dedication, it's made a very big difference and opened the gate for South African music to be recognised all over the world,” Sibongiseni Shabalala told TshisaLIVE.
Four years ago, the group launched The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy, which saw them travel to South Africa's provinces to find and develop young aspiring artists.
“In 1988 my father had a dream of building a school for all the indigenous music where it can be taught and preserved for generations to come. That dream did not materialise while he was alive,” Sibongiseni said.
“In 2018, we started to establish the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy, going all around the country to all the provinces talking to young people, and teaching them about their culture, telling them about the importance of knowing who you are. Along the way, we were able to get new talent. We groomed them and put them in the studio. Now we are putting them on stage.”
Some groups now share the stage with Ladysmith Black Mambazo at international shows and on this South African Legacy Tour.
At the Durban Playhouse the music group showcased talent they discovered in KwaZulu-Natal, namely Africa Mamas from Durban, Umzamo Young Boys from Pietermaritzburg and Inkinzemnyama from Umsinga.
“It would be a big struggle for us if they were not there. When you have a son, you have a big helper. You stretch yourself and you reach where you would have not been able to reach without them,” Albert Mazibuko said about the importance of working with younger artists.
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