“He loved traveling the world, spreading the mission and music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo,” the statement said.<\/p>\n
“He never tired of talking about the group’s history and its desire to spread ‘peace, love and harmony’ everywhere people had ears to listen.”<\/p>\n
Mazibuko grew up in the eastern town of uMnambithi, formally known as Ladysmith, and left school early in order to work full-time on a farm.<\/p>\n
His cousin, Joseph Shabalala, founded Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1960 and eventually asked Mazibuko to join.<\/p>\n
The group fused indigenous Zulu songs and dances with South African isicathamiya, an acapella tradition frequently accompanied by a soft, shuffling style of dance.<\/p>\n
A radio performance in 1970 led to a recording contract, and in 1973 they released Africa’s first gold-selling album, Amabutho.<\/p>\n
The group achieved global recognition after US star Paul Simon recruited them to sing on the multi-million-selling album Graceland. Simon was criticised at the time for breaking the cultural boycott of apartheid South Africa.<\/p>\n
Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie was among those paying tribute to Mazibuko on Monday.<\/p>\n
He said in a statement that he was “more than a performer; he was the custodian of a uniquely South African sound that travelled across the world and united people through music”.<\/p>\n
Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang songs of hope and unity during the dark decades of apartheid, when racial discrimination was legalised.<\/p>\n