Legendary musician Joseph Shabalala to be laid to rest

The 78-year-old singer died last week at a Pretoria hospital.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has declared a special official funeral for the music icon who, along with the word-renowned choral group, was awarded the National Order of Ikhamanga.

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Director-General in the Presidency Casius Lubisi says that Shabalala’s passion for music led to a number of international collaborations.

“It was played on various radio stations and of course he then attracted the attention of various collaborators outside South Africa, people like Paul Simon, Dolly Parton and others. He became an international legend, and his voice was well-known, extreme active and a true music genius.”

Lubisi says the legacy left by Shabalala cannot be in doubt.

“He was the mentor to many people in the music fraternity, the fact that if you look now, the members of Black Mambazo that are singing are his own children and other young people. It speaks to Joseph Shabalala’s ability to mentor and to ensure that succession of the group continue to exist.

“He trained new people, he was even made an honorary professor at the University of Natal in the 90’s where he trained people at the school of music on Isicathamiya. He really had left a legacy, his life, his voice and his music continues through the voices of others he mentored,” says Lubisi.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo won five Grammy’s together with various other international awards.