Nellie Shabalala
Encyclopedia
Nellie Shabalala was the wife of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
(LBM) leader and founder, Joseph Shabalala
, for over thirty years. She had formed her own allied group, Women of Mambazo, in the 1970s. The group were beginning to create a name for themselves after touring with LBM in the United Kingdom in 2001, but disbanded after Nellie Shabalala was shot and killed by a masked gunman, initially for unknown reasons, in May 2002.
In October 2001, Joseph Shabalala brought his wife's group, Women of Mambazo (WOM) to the UK to support LBM in their thirty-date tour of the country. The group, formed of members from the Shabalala's church in South Africa, the Church of God of Prophecy
, were a hit with audiences. After both Mambazo groups returned home to South Africa, Joseph organised the recording of WOM's first album.
Tragedy struck Joseph when, in May 2002, Nellie was murdered in outside their home in Claremont
by a masked gunman. Shabalala's hand was injured after struggling to catch his wife's killer. Tributes immediately began pouring in for Nellie from a wide cross-section of fans, friends, and fellow musicians from around the world. A major, high-profile trial followed, in which Joseph's son (Nellie's stepson) Nkosinathi Vivian was accused of hiring a hitman to kill his stepmother. The trial ended in March 2004 when Nellie's real killer, Mboneni Mdunge, was sentence to life imprisonment.
The unfinished Women of Mambazo album, Mamizolo, was posthumously released in 2003 as a tribute to Nellie Shabalala.
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...
(LBM) leader and founder, 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:...
, for over thirty years. She had formed her own allied group, Women of Mambazo, in the 1970s. The group were beginning to create a name for themselves after touring with LBM in the United Kingdom in 2001, but disbanded after Nellie Shabalala was shot and killed by a masked gunman, initially for unknown reasons, in May 2002.
In October 2001, Joseph Shabalala brought his wife's group, Women of Mambazo (WOM) to the UK to support LBM in their thirty-date tour of the country. The group, formed of members from the Shabalala's church in South Africa, the Church of God of Prophecy
Church of God of Prophecy
The Church of God of Prophecy is a Christian denomination with beliefs and principles similar to Pentecostal Holiness Christian faith. It is one of five Church of God bodies headquartered in Cleveland, Tennessee that descended from a small meeting of believers who gathered at the Barney Creek...
, were a hit with audiences. After both Mambazo groups returned home to South Africa, Joseph organised the recording of WOM's first album.
Tragedy struck Joseph when, in May 2002, Nellie was murdered in outside their home in Claremont
Claremont, Cape Town
Claremont is a suburb of Cape Town, South Africa. It is situated six miles south of the city, and is one of the so-called "Southern Suburbs". It is an important commercial and residential area, which is currently experiencing significant growth and development.-History:Until the arrival of Dutch...
by a masked gunman. Shabalala's hand was injured after struggling to catch his wife's killer. Tributes immediately began pouring in for Nellie from a wide cross-section of fans, friends, and fellow musicians from around the world. A major, high-profile trial followed, in which Joseph's son (Nellie's stepson) Nkosinathi Vivian was accused of hiring a hitman to kill his stepmother. The trial ended in March 2004 when Nellie's real killer, Mboneni Mdunge, was sentence to life imprisonment.
The unfinished Women of Mambazo album, Mamizolo, was posthumously released in 2003 as a tribute to Nellie Shabalala.