Shabalala’s music legacy is one of love

On this weekend of love, I have one man on my mind – umshengu. You know when a woman calls a man by his clan name, she is beyond smitten – she is deeply in love. And I am, especially today because it is a special Sunday to honour this man.

Each time I think of Shabalala, I get goosebumps.

Before I tell you about this gem, I’m reminded of a joke that when a Zulu man sings, he sings in sweet, sensual falsetto (think singer Maxwell), but when he threatens you, he does it in a baritone (think Barry White as a taxi driver).

But Mshengu’s voice is gentle and is synonymous with love. Love for family, culture, music and South Africa. Listen to it today and join me in honouring him.

Joseph Shabalala, may his soul rest in peace, brought us the group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which on this day in 2005, won their second Grammy Award for the album Raise Your Spirit Higher: Wenyukela.

The album was released in 2003, a year after Shabalala’s wife, Nellie, was gunned down in front of him.

Shabalala died on February 11, two years ago, after a long illness. But not before seeing his legacy come full circle.

The group has gone on to win five Grammy Awards, with their most recent in 2018 by the young crop, which includes his sons for the album Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration. It is a remake of the classic Shaka Zulu that earned the original group their first Grammy in 1987.

The remake of the first album by the present generation of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, which includes Shabalala’s sons in the forefront, is keeping his legacy and that of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo brand alive.

Also symbolic in a sense is that the group’s latest Grammy also honoured those Mambazo members who had passed on, while cementing the legacy of Shabalala, who had retired years before the young group won the award.

As I said, it’s all love. And so loved was Shabalala and the isicathamiya group that their collaboration album Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Friends featured some of the world’s music mega stars, from Paul Simon, Dolly Parton, Andreas Vollenweider to Des’ree and Josh Groban.

It is also showcases South Africa’s very own celestial music giants, Hugh Masekela, Lucky Dube and Nana Coyote. Vusi Mahlasela, PJ Powers and Thandiswa Mazwai and music group Zap Mama also feature on this double album that was released more than 10 years ago.

To Shabalala, you are loved, the same way you loved us through your music.

To the men of Ladysmith Black Mambazo – those who have passed and those who are bearing the torch – it’s all love.