Ladysmith Black Mambazo to Perform at UB on Feb. 5

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo Center for the Arts will present Ladysmith Black Mambazo at 8 p.m. on Feb. 5 in the Mainstage Theatre in the Center for the Arts on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

Mention African song and most people think of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a group that represents the traditional culture of South Africa and is regarded as the country's cultural emissaries at home and around the world.

It has been more than 15 years since Paul Simon made his initial trip to South Africa and met group founder Joseph Shabalala and the other members of Ladysmith Black Mambazo in a recording studio in Johannesburg. Having listened to a cassette of their music sent by a DJ based in Los Angeles, Simon was captivated by the stirring sound of bass, alto and tenor harmonies. Simon incorporated the traditional sounds of black South Africa into the "Graceland" album, a project regarded by many as seminal to today's explosive interest in World Music.

A radio broadcast in 1970 brought about their first record contract. Since then, the group has recorded more than 40 albums, selling more than six million copies at home and abroad and establishing them as the No. 1 record-selling group from Africa.

Their first album release for the United States, "Shaka Zulu," was produced by Simon and won the Grammy Award in 1987 for "Best Traditional Folk Album." Since then they have been nominated for a Grammy Award six additional times, including a nomination in 2001 for the album "Live From Royal Albert Hall."

A documentary film titled "On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps To Freedom," which is the story of Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, was nominated for an Academy Award as "Best Short Documentary Film in 2001." The film was also nominated for an Emmy Award in 2002 for "Best Cultural Documentary."

In addition to Paul Simon, the group has recorded with numerous artists including: Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, The Wynans, and George Clinton. They also have appeared in or recorded music for a number of films, television programs and commercials.

Mambazo worked with the Steppenwolf Theater Company of Chicago to lend their singing and acting abilities to a play written about the apartheid era in South Africa. After premiering in Chicago in 1992, the play, "The Song of Jacob Zulu," opened on Broadway in the spring of 1993 and was nominated for six Tony Awards including "Best Music for a Play." Joseph and the group also were honored with the prestigious Drama Desk Award for "Best Original Score."

In addition to their international concert tours, the group has performed at two Nobel Peace Prize Ceremonies, a recent performance for the Pope in Rome, South African Presidential inaugurations, the 1996 Summer Olympics, music-award shows from around the world and many other special events. In the summer of 2002 Black Mambazo was again asked to represent their nation for Queen Elizabeth II's 50th Anniversary as Monarch.

Tickets for Ladysmith Black Mambazo are $24, $20, and $16 for the general public, and $22, $18, and $14 for UB students. Tickets are available from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Center Box Office and at all Ticketmaster locations, including Kaufmann's. To charge tickets, call 852-5000; in Canada, call 416-870-8000. For group sales, call 645-6771. For more information, call 645-ARTS or visit the Web site at http://www.arts.buffalo.edu. The Center for the Arts is a Ticketfast location.