Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo have been performing for nearly 60 years now. Naturally, they are a well-oiled, well-harmonised musical machine. Joseph Shabalala formed the group in South Africa, way back in 1964. Mambazo perfected isicathamiya, the traditional music of the Zulu people. They became exponentially popular, receiving gold disc certification in 1973, and collaborating with Paul Simon in 1986.
Because of retirements and deaths, Mambazo have had several line-up changes. The ensemble that performed at the Theatre Royal last night was led by Joseph’s youngest son, who took over his father in 2013. Clearly the right man for the job, Thamsanqa is led the group in crisp, swirling harmonies. Mambazo selected songs from their expansive back catalogue including those from the Grammy-award winning Shaku Zulu Revisited. Unomathemba attested the album’s acclaim; the song’s tight harmonies and stirring melodies sounded absolutely stunning.
Vocal polyrhythms are just one part of Mambazo’s act. Dance played a huge part, from traditional Zulu high-kicking to more literal actions. The group also had great comedic timing. Thamsanqa and co. cracked jokes and performed playful oneupmanship. Occasionally, the latter veered into daft pantomine, a confusing choice which threatened to undermine Mambazo’s highly technical aspects.
Saying that, the ensemble received an all-round warm reception from the audience, particularly during Homeless and Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes - songs born from the Mambazo-Simon collaboration. Mambazo are performing in Bury St. Edmunds tomorrow, so if you missed them, there’s another chance to catch their rich, relentlessly fun performance in East Anglia.
