Joseph Shabalala

Biography

Joseph Shabalala was born on August 28, 1940, in Ladysmith, South Africa, and raised by his parents on a white-owned farm after his father's death. He formed the group Ezimnyama ("The Black Ones") in 1959 and later renamed it Ladysmith Black Mambazo, achieving significant success with Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland, earning multiple Grammy Awards. Tragedy struck when his brother and wife were killed by assailants, but he persevered to continue making music.