A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Subject: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mombz
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 May 21 - 11:10 AM

Africa knows traditional music. They don't have to argue about what is traditional music. Tradition lives on. It is not a particular song of the past, or a recording. It lives and breathes in the people. We need to carry on that Spirit. Folk music isn't a relic to be curated and discussed. It is something within us that is not limited by time or old songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TTVfLuWgd8

Leaning on the Everlasting Arms - Ladysmith Black Mombazo
Many years ago, when there sill were record stores, I was browsing through l.p.'s when this song flooded the store with joyful noise. I was completely absorbed in the music and the rhythms. I stopped what I was doing and walked up to the counter and said, "I'd like a copy of that record, whatever it is." I had no idea who the group was, but I knew I had to have the album. Listening to this song this morning, I am swept away, once again.
I had the great joy of hearing Ladysmith Black Mombazo in concert twice, and once with Paul Simon.

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mombz
From: Helen
Date: 16 May 21 - 03:44 PM

Thanks for this thread and the Wimoweh - Miriam Makeba thread.

I have a brilliant 3 CD set called Africa Never Stand Still which I bought in the '90's. I love it. There is so much amazing music and musicians on it. Ladysmith Black Mombazo is on it, but not Miriam M. I also have a CD by Ladysmith BM but Everlasting Arms is not one of the tracks.

I recently bought 3 CD's by Dawda Jobarteh who plays the kora - a harp-like instrument - with a lot of traditional sounding tracks but also some fusion tracks.

I have CD's by Angélique Kidjo, and Kanda Bongo Man, and one called Morocco, Crossroads in Time, and then there are all of my CD's by African heritage people including Louis Armstrong, Billie Holliday, Fats Waller, Ella Fitzgerald and..and... the list is long. I also love Arabic music.

I think I was born on the wrong continent, but I have some CD's by amazing Australian indigenous artists like Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Yothu Yindi - the list goes on for those artists too.

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mombz
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 16 May 21 - 09:24 PM

Hi, Helen. We have a strong overlap in interests. I was able to to to Ghana and the Ivory Coast many years ago and I'll never forget the experience. On Sunday we went to a church service, and the music was so full of the Spirit!

I have a good-sized collection of African music, love reggae, too. There was a reggae band performing inthe lobby of one of the hotels where we stayed. Reggae is strong in Africa.

Thanks for your long response.

Jerry

I also have a great love for early jazz, blues and country blues in this country.

I've been interested in Australian music and literature for a long time, as well. If you ever lay your hands on a copy of the Book, Australia Felix, it is fascinating. I actually had to get a copy from a Facebook friend i Austrralia, many years ago. None of the books of that title on amazon are the book I have. I'll track down the name of the author if you are interested. I still have the book. I also would recommend Australian Bush Ballads with A.L. Lloyd and Ewan McColl.... I think. It's been many years since I listened to it, and I have it on l.p. I learned several songs that I used to perform and still love. My closest friend in highscool spent two years in Australia and sent me several casettess.

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mombazo
From: Helen
Date: 17 May 21 - 01:56 AM

I forgot to mention that I have a Miriam Makeba CD as well.

I've never travelled overseas - how weird is that - but from early in my life the only place I really wanted to go to is the African continent.

If I lived in the U.S. I think I would have been the white kid lurking around the African-American churches trying to listen to their music.

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 May 21 - 02:03 AM

I love to listen to Ladysmith Black Mambazo with the volume up and all the lights out. Such a beautiful sound!

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

https://mambazo.com/

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 May 21 - 09:18 AM

Me too, Joe. There is no harmony that can equal Black Mombazo, for me.

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo
From: Nick
Date: 17 May 21 - 09:52 AM

Not a comparison but one of the stranger experiences I had in my life was going to a singaround in Thirsk, North Yorkshire a lot of years ago and bumping into Black Umfolosi who happened to be staying at the pub/hotel and joined us for a song. It might have been around this time or near. Nice people and nice singers obviously

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 May 21 - 10:37 AM

When I was a student in the early 1980s,
the UK post punk/new wave music scene
was becoming very eclectic, ravenous for new ideas and influences..

I was so lucky to be living and studying in Bristol.
A city notorious for gaining wealth from the slave trade.
But in the later 20th Century, evolving into a militantly radical progressive nexus
for celebrating multi cultural music and traditions.

Bath was a very similar city, just a few miles away..

A coalition of local based rock stars and cultural activists formed WOMAD..

https://realworldrecords.com/features/womad/womad-giving-the-world-back-to-the-world/

I experienced the first big WOMAD festival in 1982 at The Bath and West show ground in Shepton Mallet..

This was History in the making.

The enthusiasm generated by this festival sparked a music movement which had deep influence
on the my generation,
and has continued to make significant dents into the stubborn musical prejudices of mainstream cultural xenophobia..

[pockets of mudcatters perhaps remaining one of the most resistant stubborn last bastions...???]

That festival also provided the radical festival concept
of proper civilised lavatory and shower facilities..
Such previously unknown luxuries, so close to the Glastonbury festival...


Perhaps the only dodgy consequence of WOMAD was the tribal fashion fad..

Affluent middle class white trendies, with an affectation for dreadlocks
and garish coloured Afro clothing and jewelry..

..white bands also went a bit mad for tribal rythms and percussions,
scoring more trendy points if including token black guest musicians..

But at the time it was naive enthusiasm for new exotic influences..

It would be some years later before the new threat of accusations of cultural appropriation pissed on the party...

But at the time this tribal fad harmlessly complimented the more significant 2Tone Ska & Reggae music movement
of genuinely multicultural bands of black and white equals..

Like I said, I was so lucky to be young and alive in Bristol at that time...

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo
From: Senoufou
Date: 17 May 21 - 10:51 AM

How interesting Jerry that you have visited Ghana and Ivory Coast. My husband is an Ivorian, of the Senufo tribe, and I have also been to Ghana and Senegal. The latter was particularly memorable when I attended a Catholic Mass in Djouloulou. The huge, deep-noted drums, percussionists and singers actually brought tears to my eyes, it was mind-blowing.
I have always felt there is something 'in me' that is awakened by African music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo and many other African musical groups speak to my heart.
It's music at its most poignant and best.

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo
From: punkfolkrocker
Date: 17 May 21 - 11:11 AM

Sen - at WOMAD, we were probably one of the first UK audiences to experience the astonishing joyous sonic assault of the Drummers of Burundi..

If I recall correctly, one of the times they appeared was as a guest spot with Echo and the Bunnymen.
This was on the main stage, in what I recall as a corrugated metal building,
with the drums mic-uped through the PA..

F@ckinghell ('scuse the language), what an amazing racket...!!!

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo
From: Helen
Date: 17 May 21 - 03:18 PM

What Senoufou said, except that I have not been to Africa:

"The huge, deep-noted drums, percussionists and singers actually brought tears to my eyes, it was mind-blowing.

"I have always felt there is something 'in me' that is awakened by African music. Ladysmith Black Mambazo and many other African musical groups speak to my heart.

"It's music at its most poignant and best."

I posted this link in another thread, but this song from the CD set Africa never Stand Still is one of those pieces of music in the world which stops me in my tracks. The world stands still while I listen to it.

Abdel Gadir Salim - Bassama

Subject: RE: A living Tradition Ladysmith Black Mambazo
From: Jerry Rasmussen
Date: 17 May 21 - 03:56 PM

Beautiful post, Helen. It still stops me in my tracks.