The 5-time grammy award winning isicathamiya legends Ladysmith Black Mambazo will grace the Artscape stage from the 17,18,19 of November 2023 as they converge on the Mother City as part of the nationwide SA Legacy Tour.
Immortalised as one of South Africa’s foremost cultural exports they remain they epitome of South African and continental music excellence on global stages.
This special South African tour is a celebration of their great musical journey and legacy over the past six decades.
Equally it will showcase the fruits of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy. Launched just four years ago it seeks to discover then develop young aspiring groups from all nine provinces who sing isicathamiya and indigenous music. Thanks to this programme, which is supported by the National Department of Sport Arts and Culture, some of the groups now share the stage with Ladysmith Black Mambazo at international shows and during the SA Legacy Tour.
At Artscape, specifically talent discovered in the Western Cape and Northen Cape as well as Free state province will be showcased. Groups that will be sharing the stage with Ladysmith Black Mambazo include, Bantakwethu aCapela from Cape Town; Meduduetsane basadi from the Northen Cape and Bothabelo Sunrise from the Free State province .
Says group member Sibongiseni Shabalala, “Ladysmith Black Mambazo aims to grow this programme and expand it to all nine provinces. The show will showcase a world-class performance by us and the newly discovered artists, with an aim of inspiring young artists to love, and preserve culture and heritage through music.”
Says Ladysmith Black Mambazo member Sibongiseni Shabalala of the group started by his late father Joseph Shabalala in the 1960s. “Ladysmith Black Mambazo has embarked on this national tour celebrating our journey in the music industry and thanking South Africans for the love and support they have shown us. The Music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a cultural export of our heritage and culture globally. We are now showcasing what the world has been witnessing during our tours.
Says Albert Mazibuko who has been in the group since it began. “Performing at home is very special because the social issues of South Africa inspired the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo during the dark days of Apartheid till now. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a mirror of South African Society. The South African National tour aims to reconnect with local audiences and also celebrate the legacy of the group since it was established”.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo was formed in the early 60s by Joseph Shabala. A storyteller, and he used music to share his life’s personal experience. Thus, from humble beginnings, the group broke records by being the top-selling music group in South Africa in the late 70s and 80s. The overwhelming support from South African audiences and neighbouring countries paved the way for Ladysmith Black Mambazo to showcase their music globally.
This success led them to record and perform with global music icons including Burna Boy, Josh Groban, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Winans, Dolly Parton and many more. The award-winning group were described by President Nelson Mandela as ‘South African ambassadors of culture and heritage worldwide’.
The SA Legacy Tour commenced in May at The Joburg Theatre. Recently they have just finished a three day show in KZN at the Durban Playhouse in September. The final leg of the tour will be at Pretoria’s State Theatre from the 17 to 19th of December 2023.
It is supported by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.
Concludes Sibongiseni Shabalala: “Singing in front of South African audiences is like the completion of the Lifecycle of the musical journey”.