Two of South Africa’s most influential indigenous music
acts, Ladysmith Black
Mambazo and Phuzekhemisi, will receive Lifetime Achievement Awards,
sponsored by Amstel, at the 20th Annual South African Music Awards.
“During Freedom Month, we are proud to pay tribute to these
national treasures and music ambassadors who have worked tirelessly to raise
the global profile of isicathamiya and maskandi, two traditional music genres
rooted in the South African soil,” said David du Plessis, the Chief Operating
Officer of the Recording Industry of SA (RISA).
The Lifetime Achievement Awards, sponsored by Amstel Lager,
will be presented during the main SAMA 20 awards ceremony at the Sun City
Superbowl on April 28, 2014.
Phuzekhemisi (the stage name of Johnstone Mnyandu) is widely
regarded as the king of maskandi music. He expressed his delight at being
honoured by the music industry with this accolade, saying: “I am grateful to
those who still recognise my music – may they also do so to other artists who
have worked so hard. No words can describe how grateful I am to receive such an
award; I thought the industry and the people had long forgotten about me. This
is wonderful, thank you!”
Phuzekhemisi means “drink the medicine” or “one who drinks
at the chemist” in isiZulu. Maskandi is a literal translation of the Afrikaans
word for musician, namely “musikant”, and a solo maskandi is seen as the local
equivalent of the European wandering minstrel.
Hailing from rural KwaZulu-Natal, Phuzekhemisi and his
brother, Khethani, burst on to the local music scene in 1989. Sadly, Khethani
was unable to fully enjoy the fruits of their success as he was killed in a car
accident in 1993.
Phuzekhemisi went on to record a succession of
platinum-selling albums, all featuring his distinctive maskandi guitar style.
An activist musician, he has often angered those in power with his outspoken
lyrics, which highlight social ills in the country’s rural communities in
particular. Over the past quarter of a century, this fearless champion of the
underdog has never shied away from controversy and speaking his mind.
This true musician of the people is nominated in the Best
Maskandi Album category at SAMA 20, for his album Kungakho Nilwa Nodwa.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are celebrating an incredible 54
years since their formation, while still basking in the glow of their fourth
Grammy Award (for their release Singing
for Peace Around the World), confirming the band’s pre-eminent position in
the world music pantheon.
However, as these maestros of vocal harmony point out: “The
journey of Ladysmith Black Mambazo started in South Africa and the group was
celebrated in South Africa before we became internationally acclaimed. Being
given the honour of a lifetime achievement award is like South Africa saying
thank you to us for being great ambassadors of local culture and heritage
through our music. We thank you, SAMAs, and we salute you, South Africa.”
Ladysmith Black Mambazo are enjoying yet another golden
year. From April 17 to May 11 2014, Amambazo,
a musical based on their story, will take to the stage at the State Theatre in
Pretoria. And in August, they will head to the prestigious Edinburgh
International Festival to premiere a Zulu ballet titled Inala that celebrates South Africa’s 20 years of democracy.
Joseph Shabalala and his fellow music magicians first came
to the world’s attention when they collaborated on Paul Simon’s Graceland
album, kindling a global interest in world music. Their isicathamiya style of
choral singing was born on the mines and travelled with the migrant mineworkers
when they returned to their rural homes. This is where the tradition of
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s distinctive, stirring vocal harmonies was born.
Over the decades, they have clocked up many career
highlights, among them performing for Nelson Mandela at the Nobel Peace Prize
ceremony in Oslo in 1993 and at his inauguration in 1994, and singing at the
concert marking Queen Elizabeth II’s 50th anniversary as monarch.
Every year, for the past 20 years, the SAMAs have recognised
greatness and longevity, celebrating those who have perfected their craft over
time. As Diederik Vos, Marketing Manager of Amstel Lager South Africa,
explains: “At Amstel we believe nothing of greatness has ever been accomplished
in a hurry. Great things take time to achieve, and becoming a respected legend
is one of them. With this in mind, we at Amstel are proud that the recipients
of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Awards are truly iconic South Africans, who
over decades of work have created uniquely South African music. They have built
their legacy by taking their time, and we at Amstel salute that.”
The South African Music Awards are organised by the Recording
Industry of South Africa (RISA), a trade association of recording companies
operating in South Africa.
The 20th Annual South African Music Awards are made possible
with the generous support of official vehicle sponsor Kia Motors, official
broadcast sponsor SABC1, event sponsor Sun International and Amstel Lager.
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