Ilembe is a 2007 album by the South African isicathamiya

Isicathamiya

Isicathamiya is a singing style that originated from the South African Zulus. In European understanding, a cappella is also used to describe this form of singing.-Background:...

 group Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a male choral group from South Africa that sings in the vocal styles of isicathamiya and mbube. They rose to worldwide prominence as a result of singing with Paul Simon on his album, Graceland and have won multiple awards, including three Grammy Awards...

. It was released on February 26, 2007 and did not feature collaborations, and was simply "Ladysmith Black Mambazo at its best", as the Gallo press release for the anticipated release put it.

Album's theme

Songs on the album are primarily moral, but there are some religious compositions for which the group are well known. The title track, "Kuyafundw' Osizini" ("Learning From The Obstacles"), spoke of the obstacles faced by people in their lives. As Joseph Shabalala

Joseph Shabalala

Joseph Shabalala , born Bhekizizwe Joseph Siphatimandla Mxoveni Mshengu Bigboy Shabalala, is the founder and musical director of the South African choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.-Early life and career:...

 (the group's founder, lead singer, composer and director) put it, "Don’t worry about the many things that are in your way. If you confront those obstacles and learn from them, you will teach others how to conquer the same kinds of obstacles. There are people who complain about everything, and they want to avoid doing things that are too hard, like school or a job. Those people should stay where they are and learn from their experiences."

The album was released in South Africa on the group's label Gallo (#CDGMP 40976), and was issued in the United Kingdom on the Warner Jazz label on April 16, 2007. The album was released in the United States on January 22, 2008, under the title Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu

Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu

Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu is a 2008 release by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. It was released on January 22, 2008. The album does not feature collaborations with other artists; it is "simply Ladysmith Black Mambazo at its best", as the Gallo press release for the...

.

Awards

Ilembe has been a very successful album for Ladysmith Black Mambazo: in South Africa, the recording won a South African Music Award

South African Music Awards

The South African Music Awards are an annual award ceremony, run by the Recording Industry of South Africa , where accolades are presented to members of South Africa's music industry. Winners receive a statuette is called a SAMA. The event was established in 1995...

 (SAMA) on May 3, 2008 in the category Best Traditional A Capella Album; and in the United States, it won a Grammy on February 8, 2009 in the category Best Traditional World Music Album in the 2009 Grammy Awards

51st Grammy Awards

The 51st Annual Grammy Awards took place at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA on February 8, 2009. Robert Plant and Alison Krauss were the biggest winners of the night, jointly winning five awards including Album of the Year and Record of the Year...

.

Track listing

1. "Ommu Beno Mmu" ("Somebody And Somebody")
2. "Kuyafundw' Osizini" ("Learning From The Obstacles")
3. "Vela Nsizwa" ("Show Yourself, Young Man")
4. "Let's Do It"
5. "Umon' Usuk' Esweni" ("Jealous Eyes")
6. "Sizobalanda" ("We Are Here")
7. "This Is The Way We Do"
8. "Iphel' Emasini" ("A Cockroach In The Milk" - Zulu proverb)
9. "Asekhon' Amatshitshi" ("The Virgins Are Still There")
10. "Hlala Nami" ("Stay With Me")
11. "Prince of Peace"
12. "Iphel' Emasini (Nature Effects)"