Ladysmith Black Mambazo to play Mandela tribute shown at Joburg Theatre

The Celebrate Nelson Mandela Concert, which will be held a day before Mandela Day on 18 July, will honour the late statesman. The Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, Joburg Theatre and BET will support the event, which will be televised on a later date on BET Africa.

“The late president Nelson Mandela was a big supporter of Ladysmith Black Mambazo,” group member Sibongiseni Shabalala, who is the son of the late LBM founder Joseph Shabalala, said. “While he was on Robben Island, Ladysmith Black Mambazo comforted the prisoners and gave them hope that one day South Africa would be free. Ladysmith Black Mambazo was also invited to travel to Oslo [Norway] with the president when he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.”

Shabalala said LBM and Mandela had a long-standing relationship that led the group to write a song for him. “The ‘Long Walk To Freedom’ song was a tribute to Nelson Mandela for being the first democratically elected president in South Africa. The show will also be a tribute to our father, Prof Joseph Shabalala, the founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He also believed in peace and love.”

Founding group member Albert Mazibuko said the concert would celebrate Mandela’s ideals and LBM’s 62 years in the music industry.

“The event is aimed at encouraging people not to resort to violence in times of disagreements, but rather use peaceful amicable means,” he said. “This will be an annual event that will travel to different countries, preaching the message of peace through the songs of Ladysmith Black Mambazo.”

Founded in 1960, the nine-member ensemble gained prominence when they collaborated with US singer-songwriter Paul Simon on the Graceland album in 1986. The iconic isicathamiya group’s music has impacted the lives of many people – ordinary and influential – and is credited for preserving the country’s culture through its rich music and traditionally inspired choreography. The group boasts five Grammys and is the most successful African musical act at the awards alongside Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo.

Tickets for the Celebrate Nelson Mandela Concert will be made available soon on the Joburg Theatre website or at Pick n Pay stores across South Africa.