Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Ladysmith Black Mambazo's name was formed by combining the name of its hometown (Ladysmith), the word “black” from the black ox (a symbol of strength), and the Zulu word mambazo (meaning, “axe”). Through disciplined rehearsals that raised the group to professional standards, Ladysmith Black Mambazo soon outrivaled their competitors in almost every contest they entered throughout Durban and Johannesburg. Their success earned them regular performances on the burgeoning Radio Zulu broadcast and eventually landed them a recording contract with Gallo Africa, the largest recording company in South Africa. This first recording, Amabutho (1973), proved extraordinarily successful: It sold more than 25,000 copies, achieving gold-record status and making Ladysmith Black Mambazo the first group of all-black musicians from South Africa to earn this award.