Ladysmith Black Mambazo at Old Town School of Folk Music | Photos

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the three-time Grammy award winning all-male chorus from South Africa, performed at the Old Town School of Folk Music on Feb 3. Aided simply by microphones, the performance focused on the harmonies of the singers. Founded by Joseph Shabalala in the 1960s, this recording group has since become one of South Africa’s most prolific and successful. Combining the traditional rhythmic South African music of the Zulu people and Christian gospel music, Ladysmith Black Mambazo's unique sound lead to collaborations with Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Ben Harper and other recording artists. Simon's 1986 album, Graceland, is credited as introducing world music, Ladysmith Black Mambazo in particular, to much of the western world.

Shabalala was inspired to form the choir after dreaming about perfect isicathamiya (intricate a cappella Zulu music) harmonies and wishing to "bring this gospel of loving one another all over the world." With Ladysmith Black Mambazo's four decades of continuous success traveling the world to spread their message of love, peace and harmony, Shabalala's dream appears to have come true.