IN the 50 years since 1960, it seems as if the world turned upside down. South Africa, however, went right-side up as the last great bastion of the colonizers relented after centuries of struggle. Fifty years ago this December, the euphoniously named Joseph Shabalala started performing as a choral singer and guitarist; a prophetic dream in 1964 caused him to start a new group named after his home city of Ladysmith. “Mambazo” means “ax,” which refers to how this new chorale group performed in what blues musicians call “cutting session” (they were so good in local contests that they were barred from weekly competition). In 1975, the previously secular Shabalala was born again as a Christian. Thus he turned the whisper-to-a-roar force of his choral group to Zulu versions of hymns. Paul Simon was sniffing around looking for a new sound, and that was that. Simon’s Graceland brought LBM to world fame. The prolific group has released 50 albums since 1973 and has been sent to outer space via Saturday Night Live.
LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO performs Wednesday, March 10, at 7:30pm at the Montalvo Carriage House, Montalvo Arts Center, 15400 Montalvo Road, Saratoga. Tickets are $45/$50; 408.755.1617.
