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 choral group announced on their Facebook page that the musician's death occurred on Sunday following a short illness.
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 the younger members.
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 style of dance.
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 US star Paul Simon recruited them for the multi-million-selling album "Graceland." Simon was criticized at the time for breaking the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa.
Among those paying tribute to Mazibuko on Monday was Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie. In a statement, he said Mazibuko 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 the movement of black South Africans. 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 Ladysmith Black Mambazo lineup is a mix of long-standing members and newer, younger musicians. The outfit had been touring in the US since February and was due to play its last stateside show on Friday.
Source: www.bbc.com