Mambazo returns home to recharge and sing again
Victorious group has busy year ahead
Five-time Grammy awardwinning group Ladysmith Black Mambazo are heading home this week after a threemonth tour in the US.
Speaking to Sowetan from their US base in Tennessee, group member Sibongiseni Shabalala, the son of retired founder Joseph, said they were looking forward to spending time with their families and fans.
“Coming home is always a beautiful thing even though we will just stay for a short period and then go to London to perform at the Queen’s birthday,” he said.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is set to hold a parade through Durban on Thursday, starting at the City Hall. They will also perform locally before heading to England for the 92nd birthday of Queen Elizabeth 11 on April 26.
On their return from London the group will honour the Africa Day date at the Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. After that they have three days in June at the State Theatre, Pretoria, to honour Nelson Mandela.
In January the group made history when they won their fifth Grammy Award for their latest album, Shaka Zulu Revisited. Shabalala describes this feat as a poignant moment.
“We are very happy, especially because this Grammy is our first since we started performing without my father who has retired.
“When we came back and people realised that my father was no longer with us some of them started doubting us. They came [to performances] to see if we still had it and when we finished singing we would sit with them and have chats while we sign CDs and after a while they would see that we are still the same group and they would appreciate us.”
Shabalala added that his father was proud of their achievements and the continuation of the group’s legacy.
“My grandfather had a dream of seeing my dad being educated to a point he would say he wanted to see him get on a plane but my grandfather did not have a chance to see my dad get on a plane to perform in other countries.
“My dad in his retirement has the opportunity to see us his children while we get on planes and go perform in other countries and it makes him so proud that his father’s prophesy is currently coming to pass through us,” he said.