Best-selling a capella group

Ladysmith Black Mambazo (South Africa) caught the world’s attention with their mesmerizing vocal performances on “Diamonds of the Soles of Her Shoes” and “Homeless” on Paul Simon’s Graceland album (1986). They have recorded numerous albums, won five Grammys (1988–2018), toured extensively and sold 16.7 million records (albums and singles/tracks combined) since they were formed by the late Joseph Shabalala (1940–2020) in 1960. Now fronted by Shabalala’s sons Msizi, Sibongiseni, Thamsanqa and Thulani, Ladysmith are renowned for the harmonious vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube (“lion”), adopted by the Zulu people of South Africa.

The collective’s debut album, Amabutho (1973), was the first record by Black musicians to be certified Gold (for sales of 25,000 copies) in South Africa. Their studio album Shaka Zulu (1987) won the group their first Grammy, in 1988, in the now-defunct Best Traditional Folk Recording category.

They remain Africa’s best-selling musical act, with 7.5 million albums and 9.2 million singles/tracks sold worldwide by July 2022.

The Ladysmith Black Mambazo Foundation, established by Joseph Shabalala in 1999, was set up to educate Zulu children about their history and, more specifically, isicathamiya. It runs a mobile academy, visiting schools and hosting workshops and concerts.