The Meaning Behind Ladysmith Black Mambazo's Name
The Meaning Behind Ladysmith Black Mambazo's Name
Ladysmith Black Mambazo has a name as unique as it's music.
Founder Joseph Shabalala expressed interest in forming a male singing group in the 1960s after awaking from a vivid dream. Once he found the exact voices he was looking for, he transformed the traditional sound of isicathamiya into their set list. Many Grammy Awards and accolades later, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has represented the music of South Africa and distinguished itself as one of the leaders in the world music genre.
As for the origins of the group's moniker, Shabalala took the name Ladysmith from his hometown, which lies in the province of kwaZulu Natal, halfway between the city of Durban (where members of the group live today) and Johannesburg.
Since Joseph spent his early life on his family's farm, he wanted a way to not only honor where he came from, but instill a sense of power for the future. The word Black refers to the strongest farm animal, the ox.
In the Zulu language, Mambazo is the word for an axe used for chopping. Symbolicly it represents the group’s vocal strength, clearing the way for their music to reach worldwide success.
On Ladysmith Black Mambazo's legacy and future, Shabalala had this to say: "Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a family. Within the group I have had brothers and cousins singing together. Over the past fifteen years, because of retirements and death, I have been joined by four of my sons. They are the future of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, our next generation. The mission and message will continue... Thus, the dream I had over forty five years ago will continue well into the 21st century. Ladysmith Black Mambazo must continue as the message of Peace, Love and Harmony never must be silenced."