Iconic group to appear in Cincinnati

  • 2021-08-02
A group that has been bringing its music to audiences around the world for over 50 years, and now they will appear in Cincinnati.

The South African all-male choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo was founded in 1960 by Joseph Shabalala. They won international fame after singing on “Graceland,” Paul Simon’s 1986 album, and have won numerous awards, including five Grammys.

The group sings in the local vocal styles known as mbube and isicathamiya. Mbube started in the 1930s in Johannesburg, when Solomon Linda and a group of friends, known as the Evening Birds, recorded a few songs. Linda improvised the beginning of a song “Mbube,” which was so successful it became its own musical genre. Mbube is characterized by powerful, loud, four-part harmony, along with dancing. The Weavers released a version of the song, “Wimoweh” in 1948, but it was The Tokens’ 1961 version, “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” that brought this artform to the west.

Isicathamiya is a type of singing that comes from the Zulus in South Africa. It contrasts with mbube, which is sung powerfully and loudly, by focusing more on blending the voices. The highly choreographed dance moves performed by the singers are also known as isicathamiya.

Their music has allowed Ladysmith Black Mambazo to share its culture with the world. Brochure printing can be used to create informative programs for events like this.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will be at the Memorial Hall in Cincinnati on August 17 at 8:00 pm.