Back
For sixty years, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has sung powerful, uplifting songs that emote the struggles and passion of South Africa. Nelson Mandela called Ladysmith “South Africa’s cultural ambassadors.” The group sings a cappella in a joyously energetic performance that combines loud powerful choruses with softer, almost whispering chants where voices blend harmoniously alongside tightly choreographed dance moves.
Since they shot to global stardom on Paul Simon's Graceland, Ladysmith Black Mambazo hasbeen recognized as one of the world's great vocal groups. In addition to their work Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes with Paul Simon, Mambazo has recorded with numerous artists from around the world, including Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Emmylou Harris, Melissa Etheridge, and many others. Their film work includes a featured appearance in Michael Jackson’s "Moonwalker" video and Spike Lee’s Do It A Cappella. They've provided soundtrack material for Disney’s The Lion King, Part II as well as Eddie Murphy’s Coming To America, Marlon Brando’s A Dry White Season, Sean Connery’s The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, James Earl Jones’s Cry The Beloved Country, and Clint Eastwood's Invictus. A film documentary titled On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, the Story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo was nominated for an Academy Award. They have appeared on Broadway, have been nominated for Tony Awards, and have won a Drama Desk Award.
Presented without the Nashville Symphony.
