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Ladysmith Black Mambazo
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Grammy Award-Winning South African Group to Sing at WIU Feb. 10

February 5, 2010

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MACOMB, IL - - Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the Grammy Award-winning South African a cappella singing group, will perform at Western Illinois University's Union Grand Ballroom at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. The Bureau of Cultural Affairs event is also part of Western's celebration of Black History Month.

The music sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is called Isicathamiya (is-cot-a-me-ya), a style that originated in the mines of South Africa. The music is regarded as the country's cultural emissary at home and around the world. The group is well known for their work with singer/songwriter Paul Simon during his "Graceland Tour" in 1987, which helped them become more widely known.

Simon produced Mambazo's first album release for the United States, "Shaka Zulu," which won a Grammy Award in 1987 for Best Traditional Folk Recording. Since then, Mambazo has been nominated for 12 more Grammys, winning in the same category with "Raise Your Spirit Higher" (2005) and "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu" (2009).

Mambazo has recorded with many noted artists, including Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Ben Harper, Mavis Staples and The Wynans, among others. Mambazo has appeared in Michael Jackson's video "Moonwalker" and Spike Lee's "Do It A Cappella"; and the group has provided soundtrack material for Disney's "The Lion King Part II," Eddie Murphy's "Coming to America" and Sean Connery's "League of Extraordinary Gentlemen," among others.

In 1993, Nelson Mandela requested the members of Mambazo to accompany him to Oslo, where he accepted the Nobel Peace Prize; then they sang at President Mandela's inauguration in May 1994 and later for Queen Elizabeth II and the royal family at the Royal Albert Hall in London. The singing group has also performed for Pope John Paul II, at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and at many musical award shows worldwide.

Tickets are $25 for the public and $20 for seniors 62 and older and students. Call the Hainline Box Office at (309) 298-2900 from noon-5 p.m. weekdays or go to wiu.edu/bca to order tickets online.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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