Ladysmith Black Mambazo Video (DVD)

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Video(VHS/DVD). In the ancient hills and valleys of Natal, the haunting strains of Isicathamiya stir the blood and soul of the Zulu nation. In this program, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the ten-man choral a cappella group featured on Paul Simon’s Graceland album, lends its full-throated harmonies to music that cuts to the core of the universal spirit. The rhythms of Isicathamiya—a stealthy, prowling Zulu dance—can be sensed throughout the many musical performances. The group’s leader, Joseph Shabalala, explains how the group has honed the sound to mesmerizing perfection, and reveals the essence of the music in the tapping of a plough, the lowing of domestic animals, and the movement of the wind over the Natal terrain. (25 minutes)