South African a cappella group
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO


Mention African song and most people think of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who have come to represent the traditional culture of South Africa. They are regarded as South Africa's cultural emissaries at home and around the world. In 1993, at Nelson Mandela's request, Black Mambazo accompanied the future presidentto the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway. Mambazo sang again at President Mandela's inauguration in May of 1994. They are a national treasure of the new South Africa, in part because they embody the traditions suppressed in the old South Africa. It has been more than fifteen years since Paul Simon made his initial trip to South Africa, met members of the group, and was captivated by the stirring sound of bass, alto and tenor harmonies. That union would result in Graceland, regarded by many as seminal to today's explosive interest in World Music. Since then, the group has toured its traditional South African sounds around the world many times over and devoted itself to the consciousness raising of South African culture.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will also be appearing at Albuquerque's Hispanic Cultural Center on Nov 12. Call 505-268-0044 for info.