Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will perform on 18 December 2026 at Musis Arnhem. Since the early 1960s the men’s choir from Ladysmith, KwaZulu‑Natal, has been developing an a cappella sound rooted in Zulu traditions. Under the direction of founder Joseph Shabalala, the ensemble became a leading exponent of isicathamiya and mbube: tight multipart harmonies, a supple pulse, call-and-response between soloist and choir, and a warm, melodic bass that carries the whole. The repertoire ranges from spiritual songs and traditional numbers to original compositions in Zulu and English.

Their international breakthrough came in the mid-1980s via Paul Simon’s Graceland, which brought the choir to stages worldwide and led to decades of touring. In Arnhem they will draw on a rich catalogue, from Shaka Zulu and Journey of Dreams to Raise Your Spirit Higher and Ilembe. After many years under Joseph Shabalala’s leadership, the line is today continued by family members who retain the group’s distinctive sonic idiom while placing it in new contexts. Expect a programme in which voices are central, with layers that interlock and melodies that fill the hall unadorned.