CADOGAN HALL
South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo is performing at
Cadogan Hall in October as part of its UK tour.
Best known for its work with Paul Simon on his Gracelands
album, the group has a huge following in its home country and
abroad and was declared by Nelson Mandella to be “South
Africa’s cultural ambassadors”.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is known for its mix of a cappella,
isicathamiya and mbube music, which contrasts loud, powerful
choruses with softer, almost whispering chants, all combined
with tightly choreographed dance moves.
The group was set up in 1964 by Joseph Shabalala – a former
factory worker who, upon discovering an early talent for singing,
recruited family and friends to form a band in their hometown
of Ladysmith.
They went on to win every singing competition they entered,
which led to the name of the band: Ladysmith is the hometown
of the Shabalala family; Black references the black oxen,
considered the strongest on the farm and the Zulu word
Mambazo refers to an axe – symbolic of the group’s ability to
chop down the competition.
The group’s first record contract came about in 1970 following
a radio broadcast and since then the group has recorded over 40
albums, sold over seven million records and won three Grammy
awards.
The Cadogan Hall concerts feature a mixture of material
spanning the group’s career, as well as songs from its most recent
album, Ilembe: Honouring Shaka Zulu, which won Best Traditional
World Music Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards.
The band will be joined by singer-songwriter Netsayi, who
mixes her Zimbabwean root music with pop and folk, to tell
moving tales of an independent Africa.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be performing at Cadogan Hall
on October 23 and 24. Tickets: £10, £35, £35. T: 020 7730 4500.
www.cadoganhall.com
photo: Robert Hoffman
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