Albert Mazibuko: Long-Time Ladysmith Black Mambazo Member Dies Aged 77
The group said Mazibuko, a member since 1969, was its elder statesman after founder Joseph Shabalala retired.
- On Monday, manager Xolani Majozi confirmed the death of founding member Albert Mazibuko at 77. Born in Ladysmith, Embuzweni, Mazibuko was a revered member of the Grammy-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
- Founder Joseph Shabalala recruited Mazibuko in 1969, launching a 55-year tenure with the group. Following Shabalala's 2014 retirement, Mazibuko became the "wise elder to the younger members of the group."
- Although the singer was 79, Xolani Majozi stated that Mazibuko had stopped performing in recent shows due to his age. He focused on mentorship and research after his retirement from the ensemble.
- Dr. Sipho Sithole, a music executive at Howard University, collaborated with Mazibuko on a biography of Shabalala. He described Mazibuko as a "vital source of knowledge" dedicated to spreading "Peace, Love and Harmony."
- The Ladysmith Black Mambazo announced the news on Facebook, with memorial and funeral arrangements forthcoming. Mazibuko's passing marks the loss of a revered cultural custodian who shaped South Africa's music legacy.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Ladysmith Black Mambazo's "wise elder" Albert Mazibuko dies, aged 77: "What a legend, he and his group took the world by storm”
Tributes have been paid as Albert Mazibuko, from the iconic South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo, has died aged 77. The musician joined the group back in 1969, and remained as part of the line-up for 55 years. This included the five instances where the collective went on to win Grammy Awards, and when they also featured on Paul Simon’s acclaimed 1986 ‘Graceland’ album. His passing was confirmed on Sunday (April 5), and came after a short …
Albert Mazibuko and the echoes of isicathamiya – The Mail & Guardian
The news of the passing of Albert Mazibuko (77) arrives as I am playing Frank Apollo’s Yinhle in an endless loop. If you know anything about South African traditional sampling culture, you will realise that this song is a sample of Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Yinhle Lentombi. That song is from their sixth studio album Shintsha Sithothobala which was released in 1975. It is a strange coincidence. Perhaps, it is a gentle missive from the universe th…
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