Shaka Zulu

Performer: Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Engineer: Roy Halee
Producer: Paul Simon
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: All songs written by Joseph Shabalala. 1987's SHAKA ZULU was released in the wake of Ladysmith Black Mambazo's appearance on Paul Simon's GRACELAND album, which had brought the group a certain amount of attention in the United States. Ladysmith had already been recording and performing since the early '70s in their native South Africa, and SHAKA ZULU perfectly represented the unique blend of traditional Zulu music and Christian choral sounds they'd been perfecting throughout the course of their career. Still, SHAKA ZULU was a refinement of the group's distinct style: with Paul Simon in the producer's chair, and a Warner Brothers budget, Ladysmith made their most polished and beautifully crafted record up to that point. Also, the fact that many of the songs were in English further heightened their international appeal, which was already riding high on the success of GRACELAND. Overall, this is a very fine record, and one of Ladysmith's commercial high points.

From the South African musical style mbube, Ladysmith Black Mambazo popularized a more modern, sophisticated offshoot known as iscathamiya. They quickly became the genre's leading practitioners, with a vocal harmony blend that incorporated everything from mbube to gospel and doo wop. The group began recording in the mid-1970s, gaining great acclaim in their home country, but it wasn't until their collaboration with Paul Simon on his GRACELAND album in 1986 that Ladysmith broke through to an international audience. World tours, a US major-label deal, and a Grammy award followed.

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