Ladysmith Black Mambazo Movies

The South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo became internationally famous when they collaborated with Paul Simon on his Grammy wining album Graceland. This concert captures the ensemble performing a dozen songs including "Rain Rain Beautiful Rain," "Homeless," and "Long Walk to Freedom." ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide

Ladysmith Black Mambazo was already one of the most popular and acclaimed vocal ensembles in their native South Africa before Paul Simon invited them to perform on his 1986 album Graceland, which helped to make the group international stars. Led by Joseph Shabalala, the group features two tenors, an alto, and seven bass voices, bringing a unique and powerful sound to their songs, which are often inspired by traditional Zulu melodies. Ladysmith Black Mambazo has survived political strife, racial hostility, and personal tragedy in South Africa to become one of the leading groups in world music, and this documentary offers a close look at the group on stage, while also exploring their tumultuous life and times. On Tiptoe: The Music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo premiered at the 2000 Seattle Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

This African drama presents a political allegory about apartheid. It begins as a South African grandmother tells a story about how animals and humans once competed for control of the Earth. The film then moves into the story of young Nandi and her family who live under the repressive rule of the wicked whites. Nandi loses her family one tragic night when her father and brother are shot for walking on an Anglos-only beach. She in turn kills a cop and is forced to run for her life. She flees to the Ivory coast where she learns about the joys of life after apartheid. There she also meets Solofa who wants to marry her; she says yes, but only on the condition that he go with her on a humanitarian mission to her oppressed home village. Later, Nandi grows more concerned with her own needs and decides to abandon Solofa and leave along with a young Taureg girl whom Nandi uses as her "daughter." ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

In 1986, Paul Simon released his album Graceland, a ground-breaking collaboration with some of South Africa's finest musicians that brought the sensuous and expressive sounds of "Township Jive" to an international mass audience for the first time. Simon then mounted an international concert tour with several of the musicians that appeared on the album, and this home video release captures the final date of the tour in 1987, in which Simon, singer Miriam Makeba, trumpeter Hugh Masekela, and vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo brought the music back to Africa for a massive outdoor concert in Zimbabwe. Selections include "The Boy in the Bubble," "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes," "You Can Call Me Al," "Homeless," "I Know What I Know," "Graceland," "Gumboots," and 11 more. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

Filmed while apartheid still held sway in South Africa, this video documented the joy and anger expressed by black South Africans in their music. Filled with interviews and performances by such artists as Johnny Clegg, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and the Mahotella Queens, this video documents a scene where music wasn't just a leisure activity, but a necessary instrument of resistance. ~ Rob Ferrier, All Movie Guide

The compilation release Essential World Music serves up a varied and colorful collection of music videos by some of the hottest world music artists, including Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Gloria Bosman, and Gito Baloi. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide