Albert Mazibuko, who sang in the iconic South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo for more than five decades, has died at the age of 77. The musician passed away on Sunday after a short illness, as announced by the choral group on their Facebook page.

Mazibuko joined Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1969, and the collective went on to win five Grammy awards and feature on Paul Simon's acclaimed 1986 album "Graceland." On Monday, the group paid tribute to Mazibuko, describing him as "kind to a fault" and a "saint" who acted as a "wise elder" for younger members. The statement noted that he "loved traveling the world, spreading the mission and music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo" and "never tired of talking about the group's history and its desire to spread 'peace, love and harmony' everywhere people had ears to listen."

Mazibuko grew up in the eastern town of uMnambithi, formally known as Ladysmith, and left school early to work full-time on a farm. His cousin, Joseph Shabalala, founded Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1960 and eventually invited Mazibuko to join. The group fused indigenous Zulu songs and dances with South African isicathamiya, an acapella tradition often accompanied by a soft, shuffling dance style. A radio performance in 1970 led to a recording contract, and in 1973 they released Africa's first gold-selling album, "Amabutho."

The group achieved global recognition after U.S. star Paul Simon recruited them for the multi-million-selling album "Graceland," though Simon was criticized at the time for breaking the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa. Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie was among those paying tribute to Mazibuko on Monday, stating in a release that he was "more than a performer; he was the custodian of a uniquely South African sound that travelled across the world and united people through music."

Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang songs of hope and unity during the dark decades of apartheid, when racial discrimination was legalized. Mazibuko told the BBC's "Soul Music" show in 2015 that apartheid was "very harsh to us," recalling how police demanded ID books—tools used by the apartheid regime to restrict black South Africans' movement. He added that seeing people form "miles and miles" of queues to vote in the first post-apartheid election in 1994 was "like heaven." The current lineup mixes long-standing members with newer, younger musicians, and the group has been touring in the U.S. since February, with their last stateside show scheduled for Friday.

Source: www.bbc.com