In February, Global Arts Live presented Ladysmith Black Mambazo online in a concert recorded in South Africa. What great work it was! This is a highly acclaimed South African a cappella group. Aside from the fine quality of the singing, there were several delicious elements: the interweaving of the English and the Zulu (they had the sense to translate the Zulu when necessary); the changing relationship between the soloist and the chorus; the development of the dancing.
There were nine singers, all men, one front man with eight behind him, all in blue or red dashikis (they looked like dashikis, although those shirts are identified with West Africa.), black pants and white sneakers. The front man/soloist never introduced himself, but I believe he was Thamsanqa (Tommy) Shabalala, son of the group’s founder.
In the first song, in Zulu interspersed with English, Mr. Shabalala sang sometimes legato, sometimes staccato. The chorus was sometimes interwoven with him, almost like a call-response pattern. The next song, titled Mama Themba (Mother Hope), also included a call/response section, but then the chorus sang a background riff in harmony with the soloist. “Where is your hope?” it asked.
Long Walk to Freedom, also in Zulu and English, was dedicated to Nelson Mandela, “celebrating 27 years of democracy.” The lyric: “We came a log way to take over. Do you understand that?… Congratulations South Africa!” And the chorus: “Long way – long walk to freedom.” A terrific song, political without being mean or bitter.
The songs covered a range of human experience, with lyrics, mostly Zulu, ranging from “Music is the most important medium in life” to “All women are beautiful”, to a soothing “Hallelujah! Hear our prayer!” Another song seemed the South African equivalent of a doo-wop song, a combination of a flirty song and a ballad: “Hello my baby – Hello my sweet sugar baby – I love you – I need you. … Kiss me nice nice!” And a song about a homesick man told of “the mountains, the rivers and the birds that sing so sweet”. They closed with “This Little Light of Mine.”
The singers moved a bit on the first song, and the dancing developed through the concert so that by its end there was full-fledged choreography, athletic, the chorus kicking while singing softly. They included an interesting, strange gesture, their hands on their foreheads, palms out fingers, fingers interlocking.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s mission is “to spread our culture, the culture of South Africa, of love peace and harmony, throughout the world.” They’re terrific, macho and gentle, and very accomplished, although not especially versatile, musicians.
Another success for Global Arts Live!
Author: Steve Capra
