By Zuko Komisa
The news of Ladysmith Black Mambazo winning their 5th Grammy Award has been welcomed with much praise and congratulations from the broad South African public.
The annual Grammy Awards took place recently in New York. The win, in the category Best World Music Album, is for their album Shaka Zulu Revisited: 30th Anniversary Celebration. The album is a beautiful ode and a 30-year celebration of the first album the group released worldwide, Shaka Zulu, which won the first GRAMMY Award for the group. The album is also a tribute to the group’s founder, Joseph Shabalala, who retired in 2014.

Ladysmith Black Mabazo has previously won the same award in 2014 for their album Live: Singing for Peace Around the World. The World Music category has usually been reserved for international performers exhibiting “non-European, indigenous traditions”.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s music has traditionally been known for its eclectic vocal styles of Isicathamiya and Mbube, chilling sounds, uniquely expressing a South African heritage. The exporting of the sound has proven how successful artist can be when they remain true to their heritage.
This is the group’s 19th Grammy Awards nomination. Upon receiving the news of the nomination last year Shabalala’s son, Thulani Shabalala, said, “Shaka Zulu Revisited encompasses so much history for us. By re-recording the original album and having the GRAMMY Awards deem Shaka Zulu Revisited one of the five best World Music albums of 2017, this becomes an amazing moment for everyone involved with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, past and present.”
The win is a great achievement for South Africa’s indigenous music. David O’Sullivan spoke to Sibongiseni Shabalala who took over from his father Joseph Shabalala on #BreakfastWithDavid
https://soundcloud.com/kayafm959/david-osullivan-speaks-to-sibongiseni-shabalala-about-ladysmith-black-mambazos-5th-grammy-29-january-2018



