Dr Joseph Shabalala sadly passed away on Tuesday (February 11) at Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria. Tributes have since poured in from across the country and worldwide.
Joseph Headman Shabalala was born on August 28, 1941.
As a founding member of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo super-group, he touched countless hearts the world over with his music. He was well-known for his unique bass vocals.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s performance with Paul Simon on Sesame Street is legendary and is one of the top three requested Sesame Street segments in history.
Paul Simon played a critical role in Joseph Shabalala’s life, which is why Joseph gave him a special name; Vulindlela (open the way).
"Joseph Shabalala took Ladysmith Black Mambazo and brought their music all over the world. Imagine! What a great accomplishment for a boy from Apartheid South Africa. I admired him for his music and his Godly spirit. People love Mambazo. I love Joseph. We had a great time." -Paul pic.twitter.com/AJUOVVEScN
— Paul Simon (@PaulSimonMusic) February 12, 2020
The Presidency of South Africa Twitter page released the following tweet.
The President, who paid a courtesy visit to Mr Shabalala in April 2019, said: “The passing of Joseph Shabalala is a terribly sad moment for a nation and a world in whose ears the isicathamiya and mbube crafted by Ladysmith Black Mambazo will ring for generations to come.
— Presidency | South Africa ???????? (@PresidencyZA) February 11, 2020
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