THE LADYSMITH BLACK MAMBAZO  LEGACY TOUR CONCLUDES AT PRETORIA’S STATE THEATRE

The legendary Ladysmith Black Mambazo will complete the final leg of their SA Legacy Tour at The State Theatre in Pretoria on the 15th of December 2023. The five-time Grammy Award winning group has existed for six decades.  Tickets to watch them perform are R250.00 on Webtickets.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo began the SA Legacy Tour in May 2023 at The Joburg Theatre. After their October shows at Durban Playhouse, and their performance at Cape Town’s Artscape Theatre in November, they now they bring their beautiful isicathamiya sounds to Pretoria’s State Theatre on 15th December.

Says group member Sibongiseni Shabalala, “The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Legacy tour has been a fantastic experience. Connecting to audiences around the country was incredible, as well as showcasing talent we have discovered through the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy program. Through this program, we have found an incredible talent that we recorded and took worldwide during our international tours.“

Part of the legacy, and highlights of Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s musical journey, is being the anchor and torchbearers of isicathamiya music and indigenous music. Four years ago, Ladysmith Black Mambazo launched The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy, where it discovered and developed young aspiring groups who sing isicathamiya and indigenous music.  Through this program – which is supported by the National Department of Sports Arts and Culture – some of the groups now share the stage with Ladysmith Black Mambazo at international shows and on this SA Legacy Tour. At The State Theatre, as was the case with other tour stops, they will be showcasing talent they have discovered. “This time, we have decided to bring a Capetown-based group called Abantakwethu to The State Theatre.”

Says Shabalala, “The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy was initiated to discover, develop and expose talent nationwide. But to our surprise, we have rediscovered ourselves and the impact the group has made on the lives of many people in South Africa for the past decade. We have discovered that as much isicathamiya music is aligned with Zulu-speaking people, as it also originates in KZN, this music had the same impact, if not more, in other parts of the country.”

Ladysmith Black Mambazo was formed in the early 60s and has recorded and performed with global music icons – including Burna Boy, Josh Groban, Paul Simon, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, The Winans, Dolly Parton and many more. The award winning group were described by President Nelson Mandela as ‘South African ambassadors of culture and heritage worldwide’.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo spend most of their year performing abroad, which makes this tour a special occasion for their SA fans, who have long supported them.

“South African audiences first endorsed the success of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. From humble beginnings, the group broke records by being the top-selling music group in South Africa in the late 70s and 80s. The overwhelming support from South African audiences and neighbouring countries paved the way for Ladysmith Black Mambazo to showcase their music globally.” Says Ladysmith Black Mambazo member Albert Mazibuko, who has been with the group since it was started by Joseph Shabalala in the 1960s.

 “Ladysmith Black Mambazo embarked on this national tour celebrating our journey in the music industry and thanking South Africans for the love and support they have shown us,” continues  Mazibuko.”

“Pretoria is the last leg of our four-city tour this year, and we promise nothing but the best. We believe that the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Legacy tour will be a royal treat for everyone attending the event, and it will be the best way to kickstart the festive season.” Says Shabalala.

Performing at home is very special because the social issues of South Africa inspired the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo during the dark days of Apartheid till now. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a mirror of South African Society,” Mazibuko adds.

To Shabalala, “South African Audiences and international audiences are special in their own way. Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s target audience is cutting across all race groups, and surprisingly, language is never a barrier, and it’s exciting to see some people in the audience singing along with you, as compared to international audiences. As the saying goes, there is no place like home. We feel at home whenever we do a show in South Africa, a rare occasion for the group.”

In 2024 the group heads back overseas for multiple tour dates in America and Europe.

The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Legacy Tour is supported by The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and Mzansi Magic.