The traditional world music album award won by Ladysmith Black Mambazo at the 47th annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles made South Africa proud, President Thabo Mbeki said on Monday.
”The Grammy Award that has been so spectacularly won by the Isicaphamiya group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, makes us all proud to be South Africans,” Mbeki said in a statement.
He said: ”This is the epitome of success for a group which had entertained our country and millions abroad for more than four decades.”
The award is the latest milestone for the group that has sold over six million albums, making it the number one record seller in Africa. In a career spanning 30 years, the group has been nominated for nine Grammys. Its previous Grammy win came in 1987 for the album Shaka Zulu.
From the foothills of the Drakensberg to the Big Apple, the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo has entertained audiences around the world. It started in the sixties with Joseph Shabalala. He heard a harmony in a dream and got members of his family to form Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Paul Simon, the United States singer, was captivated by the music and helped the group conquer the international music scene.
They have performed for Nelson Mandela, the Queen of England and at two Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies.
This time the group was nominated in the categories of best traditional world music and best surround sound album for Raise your Spirit Higher.
The album’s release coincided with South Africa’s 10 year democracy celebrations. It held the number one spot on Billboard‘s World Music chart for several months. – Sapa