It was announced last night that the world-renowned South African singing group Ladysmith Black Mambazo was awarded the GRAMMY AWARD for Best World Music Album.
This is the 5TH GRAMMY Award the group has won in their long and varied career. Formed in the 1960's by Joseph Shabalala (retired 2014), the group is now led by Joseph's four sons, Thulani, Sibongiseni, Thamsanqa and Msizi Shabalala. On winning the GRAMMY Award, the members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo say
'This is the highest honour we can receive from the music profession. It is humbling to know that this fifth GRAMMY Award, for Ladysmith Black Mambazo, is the most any World Music group has ever received. Each time we step into a recording studio we work very hard to create something true to our culture, true to our country of South Africa and to true to our message of Peace and Love. Nelson Mandela told us that it was our mission to use our ability to be heard all over the world as a means to spread this message of peace. We will never cease in this and we thank the GRAMMY Awards for being part of our mission. We'd like to thank our fans for their continued support in this musical journey of ours. Of course we thank the people of South Africa, who have long supported us as artistic leaders for their nation.'
Ladysmith Black Mambazo won their first Grammy Award in 1988 and since then have received the Award in 2004, 2009, 2013 and now 2017. They are currently on a world tour, coming to the UK in May – details at serious.org.uk/mambazo. For further information on the group's Grammy Award winning album or their international concert schedule please visit their website mambazo.com.
— Ladysmith Black Mambazo (@therealmambazo) January 29, 2018
