Inside Joseph Shabalala’s Funeral Service in KZN – Pictures

News 365 ^ | 22/02/2020 | Omie Chester

[Candor7]

(Above: Dr. Joseph Shabalala)

The star finally gets to be laid to rest and may his soul rest in peace.

Multiple Grammy award-winning group Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s founder Joseph Shabalala‘s funeral is currently underway in his hometown at the Ladysmith at the Indoor Sports Centre in KZN.

South African, friends, family, industry colleagues, and politicians have gathered to pay their last special respects to the musical icon whose music career spanned for decades and impacted many lives.

Shabalala died at the age of 78 on 11 February in a Pretoria hospital after a long illness. He has been honored with a special official funeral attended by President Cyril Ramaphosa and KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala.

Ramaphosa has delivered his eulogy and described Mr. Shabalala as a man amongst men ” He was one of South Africa’s most decorated artist, a musical genius, a prolific composer who as we heard would sleep for two hours and want to be composing for the rest of the night, a multi-talented singer, a nifty dancer much better than what I tried to do on stage and an accomplished choreographer” said Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa said Mr. Shabalala will be remembered for putting the country on a global map and he also encouraged his legacy to live on because he liberated South Africans and made us proud to be South Africans.

See some of the visuals from his funeral which is currently underway.

[Candor7]

Dr. Joseph Shabalala's performing group is Lady Smith Black Mabazo.

Don't miss them singing at his funeral service. very powerful music based on traditional Zulu society

Music starts at the 4:50 mark. Watch the whole thing, the energy gets higher as they sing.Watch the audience also.

Link to Joseph Shabalala's Funeral Service Lady Smith Black Mabazo Music

DO NOT MISS HEARING THIS MUSIC!

[Boogieman]

Did Paul Simon make it to the funeral or is he too scared to leave lockdown?

[Candor7]

Did not see Simon there on the video link here below..

But I really love this music.They sang Homeless to him, implying that he has l eft his body and now is homeless.Very interesting.The audience really got going:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24UFsQqtKro

Here are some lyrics:

Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
We are homeless, we are homeless
The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
And we are homeless, homeless, homeless
The moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

Zio yami, zio yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami amakhaza asengi bulele
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami, angibulele amakhaza
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami somandla angibulele mama
Zio yami, nhliziyo yami
Nhliziyo yami, nhliziyo yami

Too loo loo, too loo loo
Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo
Too loo loo, too loo loo
Too loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo loo

Strong wind destroy our home
Many dead, tonight it could be you
Strong wind, strong wind
Many dead, tonight it could be you

And we are homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake
Homeless, homeless
Moonlight sleeping on a midnight lake

Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih

Yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba lonke ilizwe
(ih hih ih hih ih) yitho omanqoba (ih hih ih hih ih)
Esanqoba phakathi e england
Yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba phakathi e london
Yitho omanqoba
Esanqoba phakathi e england

Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody sing hello, hello, hello
Somebody say ih hih ih hih ih
Somebody cry why, why, why?

Kuluman
Kulumani, kulumani sizwe
Singenze njani
Baya jabula abasi thanda yo
Ho

[Robert DeLong]

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Full Performance

Not really my type of music I guess

I thought I might like this better, but it's only slightly better:

Paul Simon and Ladysmith Black Mambazo - "Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes"

Well actually it got better after the opening. 8>)

[Candor7]

I like the funeral video music, great energy, much better than audience performing. The music begins at 4:50 on the funeral video. The audience really gets going. Its very rare to see sich a thing.

I don;t care for their simple public performances much, but they loght up at this funeral, big time.The music is designed to invoke energy, Not so much when performing on stage.That’s a big difference.

[SE Mom]

I liked all of it- nice energy and smooth sound. Enjoyed the funeral and with Paul Simon.

I love most music- though rap escapes me.

[Robert DeLong]

I guess you have never been to a black Christian church service. Try one sometime, they really rock the energy. 8>)

[silverleaf]

Thanks

[dead]

Thanks! I've seen Ladysmith Black Mabazo with Paul Simon in NYC. The concert opened with Simon & Garfunkle, then went through Simon's whole career, with many guests he recorded with coming out to join him, including Pheobe Snow, Ladysmith Black Mabazo, Mighty Clouds of Joe and more. Then closed with Simon & Garfunkle again. Hell of a good show.

I have an enormous African music collection, including South African township, Malian blues, Ethiopian Jazz, Algerian Rai, Nigerian afrobeat, Zimbabwean classic rock - there is and has been so much great music there.

[higgmeister]

Thanks for posting this. RIP Joseph Shabalala.   You will be missed all over the world.

[Candor7]

This was very powerful music. It was very different IMHO delivered at Shabalala’s funeral. The air seemed to be electric, and people were looking up at the ceiling as if they could see Shabalala floating up there looking down.

Some of the repeated chanting was very evocative, like mantra.

I really enjoyed it.

I got as much of a kick out of the audience as I did Mabazo. The second song leader sure can kick high. One was up by his right ear.

There was blood in this singing, unlike the entertainment presentations I have seen by Mabazo. If I ever have a chance to see them live, I will not pass it up.

[Candor7]

Yes I know, I have been.

But this Mambazo performance had something primordial about it. Visceral yet soft, and from their warrior lineage, saying goodbye to a fellow warrior. Hell, they acted as if he was right there listening, they all did.

He likely was.

[Candor7]

Ping to the back end.

[Candor7]

That first piece is called Unomathemba ( OOYUnomatenba)which means Mother of Hope.

This is great music rooted deeply in their community.

Here is a version of Unomathenba with the group led by Joe Shabalala.Very different but quite beautiful and more nuanced.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLT7t-YYTb4

[Candor7]

Another signal piece:

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Swing Low Sweet Chariot

Thousands singing along

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEKXt2EfyLQ

[Candor7]

Chilling, and warm.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Knocking on Heavens Door

The very last words on the video. Joe Shabalala says: “ See you in Heaven!”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Zkr6kb8L58

[Albion Wilde]

RIP, wonderful, creative, spiritually excellent Joseph Shabalala!

King of Kings:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9go7LF84Vk

[Albion Wilde]

Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Knocking on Heavens Door

Amazing. That Dolly Parton really gets around. Apparently she did several songs with them. Remarkable!

I played my Graceland tape until it wore out. Was so knocked out by them when they appeared on TV—the dancing! The combination is almost like the New Zealand haka warrior chants, but softer and mellower. What a sound.

RIP, master musician. Rest in the palace of the Almighty. Receive your robe, crown and harp.