Fans react to Joseph Shabalala's passing

Joseph Shabalala at Suncoast, Durban back in his hey days. Picture: Marilyn Bernard.

Joseph Shabalala at Suncoast, Durban back in his hey days. Picture: Marilyn Bernard.

Published Feb 11, 2020

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Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder, Joseph Shabalala has sadly passed away. 

The founder of the multiple Grammy award-winning group passed away on February 11 in a hospital in Pretoria after being ill for quite some time. 

Shabalala was known for his unique "Isicathamiya" sound that was celebrated worldwide. 

His group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo which he started in the early 1960s after finding interest in Isicathamiya harmonies is the first South African musical group to win multiple Grammys. Their first Grammy award came from their first worldwide release, "Shaka Zulu", which dropped in 1988. 

The Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo has recorded with numerous artists from around the world, including Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Sarah McLachlan, Josh Groban, Emmylou Harris, Melissa Etheridge and many others. 

However, in 2014, Shabalala retired and passed the leadership torch to his sons Thulani, Sibongiseni, and Thamsanqa Shabalala who have been part of the group since 1993. 

For over 50 years, Shabalala has led Ladysmith Black Mambazo to greener pastures and this is how South Africans remember him now that he's passed on.

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPJosephShabalala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPJosephShabalalaRest In Peace Joseph 😰 pic.twitter.com/YkLggD6EPM

— Hotstix (@siphohotstix)

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPJosephShabalala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPJosephShabalalathe founder and musical director of the five times grammy winning South African group @therealmambazo

Akalalanga uguqe ngamadolo. #RIPJOSEPHSHABALALA pic.twitter.com/VPtPzBqc7Z

— eThekwini Municipality (@eThekwiniM)

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPJosephShabalala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPJosephShabalala[Photo: Flicker: Seth Gordon] pic.twitter.com/Sazg9hoWew

— South African Government (@GovernmentZA)

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPJosephShabalala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPJosephShabalala pic.twitter.com/WNlykuJKI6

— Terry Pheto (@TerryPheto)

%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/RIPJosephShabalala?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RIPJosephShabalala💔 pic.twitter.com/jpB6c3r2nj

— AkhiweOutNow (@OskidoIBelieve)

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