Ladysmith Black Mambazo February 9, 2009

Cost: $32 (plus $2 box office fee)
Sponsored by Spaces and Penn State Public Broadcasting

Ladysmith Black Mambazo was founded by Joseph Shabalala in 1974. They've cut well over 30 albums since, but the group did not become well known outside of South Africa until Paul Simon asked them to perform on Graceland. Shabalala was born into a poor family that lived on a white man's farm near the town of Ladysmith.
The group consists of seven bass voices, an alto, a tenor, and Shabalala singing lead. The combo immediately began releasing albums at a staggering rate, offering a massive catalog of vocal music. Even if you don't speak Zulu, when they hit a low rumbling note, you can literally feel the power of their voices in your body.
They had an extremely prolific recording career, having released over 50 albums and collections, beginning with their debut, “Amabutho,” on Gallo Records in 1973. In 1988 Ladymith signed with Warner Bros. and issued a pair of albums, “Journey of Dreams” in 1988 and “Two Worlds One Heart” in 1990. A couple of best-of samplers appeared on “Shanachie” in 1992.
The group switched back to Gallo for a series of 1990s releases and then moved to Wrasse for several albums, including 2000's “In Harmony”. “No Boundaries,” which featured the English Chamber Orchestra appeared on Headsup Records in 2005, followed by a second album from the label, Long Walk to Freedom, in 2006. In 2007, “Llembe:Honoring Shaka Zulu” was issued in South Africa with an American edition following in 2008.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo represents the traditional culture of South Africa and is regarded as the country's cultural emissary at home and around the world. In 1993, at Nelson Mandela's request, Ladysmith Black Mambazo accompanied the future President to the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Mambazo sang again at President Mandela's inauguration in May of 1994. They are a national treasure of the new South Africa in part because they embody the traditions suppressed in the old South Africa.