September 9, 2003
Contact: Susan Gwynne
(805) 893-2098
e-mail: gwynne-s@sa.ucsb.edu

South African emissaries Ladysmith Black Mambazo
to sing their stunning and gorgeous harmonies
at UCSB Campbell Hall

Summary Facts:

• Ladysmith Black Mambazo
• World music superstars from South Africa
• A ten-man, Zulu a cappella group
• Came to global attention appearing on Paul Simon’s Graceland
• Wednesday, October 15 / 8 pm
• UCSB Campbell Hall
• General: $35/$30, UCSB students: $19/$16
• Tickets/information: UCSB Arts & Lectures at 893-3535

UCSB Arts & Lectures presents Ladysmith Black Mambazo, South Africa’s electrifying vocal group, on Wednesday, October 15 at 8 pm in UCSB Campbell Hall. The ten-man a cappella ensemble has won millions of fans the world over for its winning stage presence and uplifting harmonies. Founder Joseph Shabalala literally had a dream of a group singing wondrous harmony in 1964, and for nearly thirty years his band of friends and relatives has created ravishing music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has recorded over forty albums, selling over six million records at home and abroad. Their work with Paul Simon on Graceland attracted a world of fans that never knew that the subtleties of Zulu harmony could be so captivating. The Village Voice has called their work “amazing—serious, intricate, droll, eerie, precisely rehearsed and very beautiful.”

The group earned its name after winning every singing competition it entered. “Ladysmith” is the hometown of the Shabalala family in Lesotho, northwest of Durban, South Africa. “Black” makes reference to black oxen, considered to be the strongest on the farm. The Zulu word “Mambazo” means “ax”—symbolic of the group’s ability to chop down the competition.

The traditional music sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo—born in the mines of South Africa—is called Isicathamiya (Is-Cot-A-Me-Ya). Poorly housed and paid black workers taken far away from their families would entertain themselves after a six-day work week by singing songs into the wee hours every Sunday morning. Calling themselves Cothoza Mfana or “tip toe guys,“ they danced steps choreographed to avoid disturbing the camp security guards. When miners returned to their homelands, the tradition returned with them and this singing and dancing became part of a fierce but social competition. These competitions are held even today in YMCA assembly halls and church basements throughout Zululand.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s first album released in the United States, Shaka Zulu, was produced by Paul Simon and won the 1987 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album. Since then they have been nominated for a Grammy Award six additional times, including a 2001 nomination for Live From Royal Albert Hall. A documentary film about the group, On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps To Freedom, was nominated for a 2001 Academy Award as Best Short Documentary Film.

The group has recorded with numerous artists besides Paul Simon, including Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, George Clinton and Ben Harper. Their film work includes a featured appearance in Michael Jackson’s video Moonwalker and Spike Lee’s Do It A Cappella. Black Mambazo provided soundtrack material for Disney’s The Lion King Part II, Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America, Marlon Brando’s A Dry White Season, and James Earl Jones’s Cry The Beloved Country. Their performance with Paul Simon on Sesame Street is legendary—one of the top three requested Sesame Street segments in history.

On the evening of the performance concertgoers may enhance their experience by attending a tasty South African buffet served by the UCSB Faculty Club at 6 pm. The dinner is $18 per person; reservations must be made by October 8 by calling (805) 893-3096.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures and sponsored by the Goleta Valley Voice and KCBX Public Radio. Tickets are $35 and $30 for the general public and $19 and $16 for UCSB students.

For tickets or more information,
call UCSB Arts & Lectures at (805) 893-3535.

Editor: For photos, please call
Susan Gwynne at (805) 893-2098.