Mambazo on a high
Mambazo still dominating
FROM Michael Jackson to Oprah Winfrey, Ladysmith Black Mambazo have rubbed shoulders with the world’s legends in the entertainment industry.
After picking up their fifth Grammy award, the group flew into Durban on Wednesday evening to a warm welcome from their fans.
The group are here to spend time with family before heading to London on April 17 to prepare for Queen Elizabeth’s 92nd birthday performance.
This will be the third time Black Mambazo perform for the British monarch.
The group won its fifth Grammy award in the Best World Music category for their latest album, Shaka Zulu Revisited.
They shot to stardom on the world’s global music stage in 1986 when they sang with Paul Simon on his album Graceland and went on to become one of SA’s most prolific recording group.
Sitting in a studio at their offices in Glenwood, Durban, for the interview, the members took a trip down memory lane with founding member, Albert Mazibuko, saying that “without doubt” he would love to repeat each and every performance, collection of awards and travels around the globe.
Mazibuko said meeting the Jacksons back in 1988 while Michael Jackson was shooting the music videos for Moonwalker, stood out for them.
“The Jacksons were like the Kardashians as you youngsters know that family nowadays.
“We were fond of the Jacksons. We met them while touring in Los Angeles after performing in the Broadway Theatre District.
“As we were passing by a Hollywood movie set, that’s when we heard Michael was shooting his music video.
Rumour
“At first we were reluctant to meet the guy since he’d just changed the colour of his skin and rumour had it that he had mixed emotions after his surgery,” said Mazibuko.
But then a moment took place which changed his opinion.
“Michael did not shake peoples’ hands without wearing white gloves, but on that day he took off his gloves and shook hands with all of us.
“He said it was truly an honour to meet the group and that his mother was fond of our song Hello Ma Baby, which was a hit in those days, so he insisted we pass by the family home to meet Katherine Esther Jackson. She was overwhelmed when she saw us in her living room,” he said.
The group’s main founder, Joseph Shabalala, has retired and they are now led by his sons.
Sbongiseni Shabalala said his sparkling moment had been when they performed for Oprah Winfrey at her birthday party at her home in Chicago.
“She asked us to come and perform at her birthday party and that was an honour, knowing Winfrey for the amazing work she does.
“I personally felt privileged,” said Sbongiseni.
Thulani Shabalala said that Cyndi Lauper, the American singer and songwriter from the 1980s, cried when she saw them perform at the Broadway Theatre.
“Cyndi was sitting in the front row that night and during the performance I spotted her. I was a huge fan of Cyndi.
“Shortly after the performance, she came to our changing room backstage, looked at us then she burst into tears.
“I felt overwhelmed and we had to comfort her.
“She then looked at us and said it’s unbelievable we were all in a same room, she cried throughout the show, that was amazing,’’ said Thulani.
The group also recalled that while in America they had an amazing time with Dolly Parton for two weeks at Dollywood theme park which was founded by Parton.
Dollywood is similar to Carnival City in Johannesburg.
They said Dolly had taken them by surprise when she told them to sing Peace Train instead of performing Knocking on Heaven’s Door.
“This was the third time performing with Dolly and each time we performed with her, she wanted Knocking on Heaven’s Door.
“It was mind-blowing to perform again at Dollywood theatre since we last performed there in 2001 at the launch,” said Mazibuko.
After their performance for the queen in Britain, Black Mambazo will return to Pretoria to prepare for their concert at the State Theatre in June this year.
The group also revealed while they did meet Nelson Mandela, they had never met Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
“I personally feel so ashamed that I’ve never met the mother of the nation yet we’ve met women icons from overseas.
“But we did meet Nelson Mandela back in 1995. As a group we are deeply moved by the passing of Mama Winnie and condolences go to the family,” said Mazibuko.
To celebrate their fifth Grammy award, tomorrow the group will attend the church service at Covenant Fellowship Church International at Olive Convention Centre in Durban.
The service will start at 8am and is open to everyone.
The group will then move to Eyadini at uMlazi to present their Grammy Award to the public.
Then on Monday, they will visit their founder, Professor Joseph Shabalala, at his home in Ladysmith to present him with the Grammy.