Thulani Shabalala
Encyclopedia
Thulani Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo
, a South Africa
n choral group founded in 1960 (and still led) by his father Joseph
.
Thulani was born in Ladysmith
(eMnambithi district) to Joseph
and his late wife Nellie
. In 1976, Joseph brought together his six sons to form Mshengu White Mambazo
, Ladysmith's 'junior choir', in which Thulani sung as one of the bass voices.
After the murder of his uncle Headman Shabalala
in December 1991 and the retirement of several other members (Inos Phungula, Geophrey Mdletshe and Ben Shabalala), Joseph later recruited Thulani and his brothers Sibongiseni
, Thamsanqa
and Msizi
. Thulani has been a part of the line-up since 1993 and is one of 4 basses (the others being Russel Mthembu
, Abednego Mazibuko
and Sibongiseni Shabalala
).
Thulani is also a member of the group Izimpande, formed in 2002 with ten native South Africans who were raised on the music and native dance of South Africa. To date, they have released two albums, Asibuye Emasisweni(Back to my Roots) and Unity is Power. Although Thulani is now making his name known in South Africa, he also continues to be a part of 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...
, a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n choral group founded in 1960 (and still led) by his father Joseph
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:...
.
Thulani was born in Ladysmith
Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Ladysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is north-west of Durban and south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textile and tyre production...
(eMnambithi district) to Joseph
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 his late wife Nellie
Nellie Shabalala
Nellie Shabalala was the wife of Ladysmith Black Mambazo leader and founder, Joseph Shabalala, for over thirty years. She had formed her own allied group, Women of Mambazo, in the 1970s...
. In 1976, Joseph brought together his six sons to form Mshengu White Mambazo
Mshengu White Mambazo
Mshengu White Mambazo is a South African choral group consisting of the sons of Ladysmith Black Mambazo leader Joseph Shabalala, with his eldest son Nkosinathi leading the group. They sing in the traditional style of isicathamiya, like their parents in the above group...
, Ladysmith's 'junior choir', in which Thulani sung as one of the bass voices.
After the murder of his uncle Headman Shabalala
Headman Shabalala
Headman Msongelwa Shabalala was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded and still led by his brother Joseph....
in December 1991 and the retirement of several other members (Inos Phungula, Geophrey Mdletshe and Ben Shabalala), Joseph later recruited Thulani and his brothers Sibongiseni
Sibongiseni Shabalala
Sibongiseni Lucas Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph....
, Thamsanqa
Thamsanqa Shabalala
Thamsanqa Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph. He will replace Joseph as the group's lead singer after his father's retirement ....
and Msizi
Msizi Shabalala
Msizi Innocent Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph.Msizi was born in Ladysmith to Joseph and his late wife Nellie...
. Thulani has been a part of the line-up since 1993 and is one of 4 basses (the others being Russel Mthembu
Russel Mthembu
Ndoda Russel Mthembu is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 - and still led - by close friend Joseph Shabalala....
, Abednego Mazibuko
Abednego Mazibuko
Mpindela Abednego Mazibuko is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 - and still led - by his cousin Joseph....
and Sibongiseni Shabalala
Sibongiseni Shabalala
Sibongiseni Lucas Shabalala is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by his father Joseph....
).
Thulani is also a member of the group Izimpande, formed in 2002 with ten native South Africans who were raised on the music and native dance of South Africa. To date, they have released two albums, Asibuye Emasisweni(Back to my Roots) and Unity is Power. Although Thulani is now making his name known in South Africa, he also continues to be a part of Black Mambazo.