Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Description

Once upon a time, a teenage boy was working on his family farm in apartheid South Africa. The year was 1960. This boy loved to sing; in fact, he loved to sing so much that he allowed himself an impossible dream. In his dream he would create a group of singers, from his family members, to sing traditional South African songs. His group would perform all over South Africa, and they would become the greatest music group his country would ever know. How could such a dream come to a young farm boy in a country rife with hardship, violence and trouble? Well, Joseph Shabalala was this young farm boy, and his dream would become Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

The year 2025 marks the 65th anniversary of Joseph Shabalala forming Ladysmith Black Mambazo. His group would not only conquer all of South Africa, but would become a worldwide phenomenon, winning more GRAMMY Awards (five) and receiving more GRAMMY Award nominations (nineteen) than any World Music group in the history of recorded music. 

Part of the Forte Bank Main Stage Series
Show Sponsor: Ruth A. Knoll Legacy