Comments on: Forty years of singing hope for black South Africans

Forty years of singing hope for black South Africans

raedyn — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 19:25:29 -0800

In apartheid South Africa, "We were the first blacks to go everywhere, that was the power of our music." Despite dozens of album credits, two Grammys and the long list of major artists they've performed with, their proudest accomplishment may be singing at President Mandella's inauguration and being told "Your music gave me hope when I was in prison." Ladysmith Black Mambazo has been making a difference with their traditional Zulu Isicathamiya music for over 40 years. Listen.[popup w/audio]

By: Hildegarde

Hildegarde — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 20:01:22 -0800

Ahh I take it you were listening to the CBC the same time I was the other day when they did a profile on LBM.

By: jack_mo

jack_mo — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 20:49:25 -0800

Making a difference to the sales of Heinz baked beans.

By: BitterOldPunk

BitterOldPunk — Thu, 16 Feb 2006 20:53:39 -0800

Saw them performing with a a traditional gospel choir at a church in Bessemer, AL many years ago. Beautiful stuff.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 07:41:40 -0800

Funny, I thought they were Xhosa (another big tribal group in South Africa). My housekeeper loves it when I play them. I have to buy some more, because I'm tired of what I have. I didn't think Xhosa would go for some Zulu tradition.

By: storybored

storybored — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 08:27:18 -0800

They are great in concert. Saw them last year here in Ottawa at a medium-sized church. They guy who founded the group doesn't look or show his age!

By: raedyn

raedyn — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 08:57:58 -0800

Ahh I take it you were listening to the CBC the same time I was the other day when they did a profile on LBM. - Hildegarde I heard a bit of something on CBC, yes. Enough to make me interested in finding out more. Funny, I thought they were Xhosa (another big tribal group in South Africa). - Goofyy I'll be the first to admit that I'm ignorant of the difference between different tirbal groups in Africa, but I was going by the bio on their webpage that explains the Zulu word in their name, refers to their album called Shaka Zulu, and that refers to their musical style called Isicathamiya, which multiple sources identify as a traditional Zulu style. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but all my sources suggested it's Zulu music they're singing. (Both are official languages of South Africa, and both are spoken by millions).

By: Sk4n

Sk4n — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 09:17:34 -0800

I saw them in London many years ago - early 90's - in the company of a crowd of (mostly white) South African Expats. It sounds like that might be strange, but it wasn't. A wonderful concert.

By: five fresh fish

five fresh fish — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 11:35:54 -0800

I've a few of their CDs. Great stuff.

By: Goofyy

Goofyy — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 11:56:21 -0800

raedyn: Yah, I looked there too. So I expressed honest surprise, rather than saying you were wrong. I had thought 'Mambazo' was the style. This was furthered by seeing another group 'Khayelitsha United Mambazo', singing on the warf in Captetown (bought their 2 CDs from them).

By: mike3k

mike3k — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 12:17:54 -0800

They're fantastic. I first fell in love with their sound when I heard "Homeless" from Paul Simon's "Graceland" album.

By: Smedleyman

Smedleyman — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 13:04:31 -0800

Weird how someone can have them next to Pantera on a mix tape...but there ya go. Good sound is good sound.