12 Feb 2020

 Founder of South Africa’s award-winning music group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Joseph Shabalala, has died.

Shabalala (78) died at the Life Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria.

He was well known for his leadership of the choral group founded in 1964 that shot to world acclaim when the group collaborated with Paul Simon on the Graceland album and others.

Media reports explained that Shabalala’s health deteriorated over the few years, resulting in him retiring from the group in 2014.

Promoter, Zenzele Hirschfeld of Zen Promotions, said in an interview that Shabalala’s death was a great loss to the music community.

She said he influenced most youngsters and inspired several Batswana artists.

He infused music with his native language, which made some Batswana comfortable to make music in their languages.

“Shabalala did not only contribute to the South Africans. His music had good messages to the whole world and he had good leadership qualities since he was able to lead the Ladysmith Black Mambazo group until he gave it to his children to carry on the legacy. It is not every day we see music groups stay that long together,” she said.

Hirschfield said Shabalala’s music would live forever and inspire coming generations. ENDS