Mambazo collects a Grammy
Ensemble wins in the Best World Music Album category, writes Nkululeko Nene
FROM winning vetkoeks in a music competition to collecting Grammy Awards, the current crop of Ladysmith Black Mambazo harmonisers are as humble, focused and bent on success as their predecessors who started out in the music business more than six decades ago.
South Africa’s premier a capella group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s name went up in lights after they collaborated with popular US singer Paul Simon on their Graceland album.
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes was a smash hit from Graceland, which was released in the late 80s, and won a Grammy in the album of the year category.
The group has lost none of their sparkle after interacting with Simon. The four subsequent Grammy awards that came their way thereafter bear testimony to their musical genius.
Their latest Grammy in the Best World Music Album-2017 category was announced in New York, last week. Having entertained high profile people including the British Royal family (Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and his late wife Princess Diana), collaborated with Michael Jackson on their track called Emafini and Stevie Wonder, they bagged their latest Grammy for their album Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration.
Speaking to the Sunday Tribune on Thursday at his Glen Hills home in Durban North, former member Russel Mthembu, 71, who is a longtime friend of Joseph Bhekizizwe “Mshengu” Shabalala, the founder of the group, said he jumped for joy when he heard of the New York announcement.
“It was dawn when I got the call. It was madness thereafter, I knelt down and thanked God for the great news.
“After we were told about the nomination for the award, past and present members of the group gathered at Shabalala’s home in Ladysmith for a session of special prayer.
“Joseph’s health is not the best, so he is unable to travel.
“We are all family. There’s no distinction between old and new members of the group,” said Mthembu, who was born in Mkumbaan (Cato Manor) in Durban.
He joined the group in 1974 after he bumped into Shabalala at a traditional healer’s waiting room. After an engaging conversation with the affable Shabalala, he was invited to a band rehearsal and that marked the beginning of his love affair with Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Mthembu believes the turning point for the group came when he introduced Shabalala to Christianity Joseph Shabalala’s brother Makhosini is excited for the group’s continued success.
because their musical journey began to hit the high notes.
“We often held lengthy chats about religion when travelling, even after others had fallen asleep. Our discussion would continue throughout the night. He was very passionate and would ask probing questions. He eventually converted to the Christian faith,” Mthembu said.
The veteran musician said the band was founded on strong values and Christian principles and none of the members abused drugs or alcohol. He said this had been the tradition of the band and the new members maintain the same standards. Mthembu rates sharing the stage with other top local musicians, Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Ray Phiri and the drummer Isaac Mtshali on the Graceland tour, including performing with Johnny “‘Skeyi” Clegg of Juluka in London as some of their best musical experiences.
Mthembu was excited about the future for the current nine members of the band, which includes Shabalala’s four sons Thamsanqa, Sibongiseni, Thulani, Msizi and Mthembu’s son, Sabelo.
Shabalala’s younger Makhosini, a bishop in brother the God of Prophecy Church in Southern Africa, which was founded by Shabalala, said while growing up on a farm outside Ladysmith, his brother had shown great leadership qualities, especially after their father died.
“He (Joseph) is a very kind person who does not speak much but has a big heart. He helped me to achieve great things in my life, and was widely regarded as the voice of reason by those who knew him.
“A school has been named after him in Ladysmith.
“In Joseph’s teen worked on the farm years, he while our mother was away in Transvaal working as a domestic worker,” said Makhosini.
He remembered how Joseph took charge and acted on behalf of the family when the farm owner threatened to throw them off his land.
“As the eldest, Joseph volunteered for six months on the farm to ensure we had a roof over our heads.
“Thereafter, he sought employment in Durban so that he could feed us,” he said.
Makhosini retired from the band in 1976 to follow his religious “calling”.