Thina sizwe esinsundu ziningi izinto esizigqaja ngazo nesizithwele ngeqoma ezingamasiko ethu. Izinto esizibungazayo yimicimbi yesintu, imvunulo esihloba ngayo emicimbini ehlukene, ukudla esikumayayo kwesintu kanye nomculo wesintu. Lawa amaciko acikoza ngawo amaZulu. Ziningi izinhlobo zomculo wesintu thina sizwe sikaZulu esiziqhenya siphinde sizigqaje ngawo. Kulezo zinhlobo zomculo wesintu kubalwa isicathamiya, umbhaqanga, imvunge, umasikandi kanye neminye … Read more
We’re all about the music this week! On Tuesday we wrote a brief introduction to the history of isicathimiya, but if you really want to learn more about this wonderful art form then you should do yourself a favour and watch the Oscar nominated documentary, On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom. Predominantly a profile on Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the films … Read more
There’s some debate about the origins of isicathamiya, although the general consensus seems to be that this Zulu style of performance was heavily influenced by the American ragtime troupes that toured South Africa in the mid-to-late 1800s. However isicathamiya, characterised by a cappella singing and tightly-choreographed dance moves, only really gained momentum in South Africa in the … Read more
Earlier this week we wrote about isicathamiya, and how the style of music has evolved over the past century, but we were remiss in not mentioning Joseph Shabalala and the now famous Ladysmith Black Mambazo! Shabalala was instrumental in the resurgence in popularity of isicathamiya, after his band achieved worldwide success through their collaboration with Paul Simon on his Graceland … Read more
If you’d been passing by the Playhouse a few weeks ago, you would have done a double take when you spotted the isicathamiya choirs, so beautifully turned out were the choir members! In fact what was once only a singing competition has now evolved into something much bigger with prizes awarded not only for the best … Read more
Ulwazi receives countless emails every month from people wanting to know the meaning of their dreams, but when Joseph Shabalala started having dreams about music, he knew exactly what the dreams meant and what he was supposed to do! Joseph formed the now famous Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the early 1950s, and by the mid … Read more