My Dream - African Sounds is a 2008 release by the South African groups 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...

 and the SABC Choir. It was released on September 30, 2008. The album is a collaboration of both 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:...

 and choral music.

My Dream - African Sounds features songs composed by Mambazo founder, lead singer, and director 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:...

, and leader of the SABC Choir Thulasizwe Nkabinde. Original Mambazo songs (such as "Iqome Kanjani", "Shintsha Sithothobala", and "Angimboni Ofana Naye") as well as SABC Choir standards (like "Plea for Africa", "Uhembelinye", and "Buya Lindiwe") are included on the album, which melds both Zulu vocal music (isicathamiya) - made famous by Mambazo - and gospel choral musics by having both groups sing each song together. The one exception is "Okuhle Hle", sung entirely by Mambazo.

The album came together when Mambazo were on tour in the US in March 2007; South African Broadcasting Corporation executive Joyce Dube saw the group in a New York

New York

New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...

 performance and approached them with the idea of recording a gospel/traditional album with the SABC Choir. Arrangements were made, and the album began to come together a year later in the South African Downtown Studios.

Track listing

1. "Okuhle Hle" (composer: Joseph Shabalala)
2. "Uhembelinye" (Thulasizwe Nkabinde)
3. "Buya Lindiwe" (Thulasizwe Nkabinde)
4. "Emarabini" (Thulasizwe Nkabinde)
5. "Iqome Kanjani" (Joseph Shabalala)
6. "Plea for Africa" (traditional / arranged by Thulasizwe Nkabinde)
7. "Eduze neNkosi" (Joseph Shabalala)
8. "Angimboni Ofana Naye" (Joseph Shabalala)
9. "Shintsha Sithothobala" (Joseph Shabalala)
10. "Kungawo Amandla" (traditional / arranged by Thulasizwe Nkabinde)