AWARD-WINNING isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo is gearing up to celebrate the late Nelson Mandela’s birthday in song.
It will celebrate Madiba with a show at the Joburg Theatre on Sunday, 17 July.
Group manager and spokesman Xolani Majozi told Daily Sun the group wanted to remind people where they came from, and of the heroes who fought for freedom.
“Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s relationship with Mandela dates back to when he asked members to accompany him to Oslo, Norway, to receive his Nobel Peace Prize in 1993. He described the group as global ambassadors of our culture and heritage.”
Majozi said one of the strongest pillars of Mambazo’s music was spreading the message of love and peace.
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“The Nelson Mandela Foundation is happy to partner with the group in celebrating the life and times of Mandela. Mambazo and the foundation are in agreement to make this an annual event that will tour big cities and later the world.”
In 2013, Ladysmith Black Mambazo released an album titled Singing for Peace Around the World, dedicated to Mandela.
Majozi said the group would release Celebrate Nelson Mandela in February, to celebrate Mandela and pay tribute to late founder, Joseph Shabalala.
“The date [11 February] is historic since Mandela was released from jail. For Black Mambazo, it is the day Shabalala departed from this earth,” he added.
Tickets for the show cost R250.
