The South Africa’s national treasure will perform its latest rendition of a cappella hits at the Kimmel Center’s at an event sponsored by Citi. The event is also presented in partnership with the African Cultural Alliance of North America Inc (ACANA). Artists from the ACANA will add flavor to the live event when they showcase some of the best African talents.

Assembled in the 1960s more than thirty years ago, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, has combined the intricate rhythms and harmonies of their native South African musical traditions to the sounds and sentiments of Christian gospel music. The result is a musical and spiritual alchemy that has touched a worldwide audience representing every corner of the religious, cultural and ethnic landscape.

Two decades ago, Paul Simon introduced Ladysmith Black Mambazo's musical genius and boundless spiritual energy to the pop music world via his groundbreaking 1986 recording, "Graceland." Eight years later, due in large part to the efforts of Ladysmith Black Mambazo and other South African artists bearing witness to racial inequality in their homeland, the centuries-old practice of apartheid came to an end in South Africa.

The Gammy Award winning South African a cappella group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, releases "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu." The album is released in honor of Shaka Zulu, a South African warrior and the first king of the Zulu nation.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo is known for its joyous and spiritually charged brand of vocal music and native choreography released on Heads Up International. "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu," is set for worldwide CD and SACD release January 15, 2008. "Ilembe," celebrates not only Shaka Zulu, but the sense of perseverance, creativity and pride that he inspired in generations of descendants.

The CDs' title translates to "The Greatest Warrior." The opening track, "O Mmu Beno Mmu" ("Somebody and Somebody"), is about the inherent benefits of people coming together and working in unison for the greater good.

Since reaching international stardom after their collaboration with Paul Simon’s Graceland which began an explosive interest in World Music, the award winning group continues to live on its legacy as South Africa’s cultural emissary, performing their harmonic blend of folk, reggae and South African musical traditions at Nelson Mandela’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, among other special events and concert tours throughout the world.

Dedicated to raising the consciousness of South African culture, the group has also created a Music Academy, continually funded during their U.S. tours. Their performance will include selections from their upcoming 2008 release ILIMBE: A Tribute to King Shaka, which explores the group’s return to their Zulu roots.

"Our tradition is meant to be spread around the world," Joseph Shabala, founder and leader of Ladysmith Black Mambazo has said. "Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a mobile academy that teaches the world about Zulu people and culture, about South Africa and all that is wonderful here…"

Ladysmith Black Mambazo was the brainchild of Joseph Shabalala, who was inspired by a "harmonious dream" and sought to bring that dream to life. The singing voices in the youthful dreams of Joseph Shabalala sparked the real beginning of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and since its conception, the group has excelled in its art and has worked to teach the world about the Zulu people and culture as well as about freedom and the beauty of South Africa.

Their first album release for the United States won a Grammy in 1987. The group was awarded a second Grammy for Raise Your Spirit Higher in 2005. Since then, the group has recorded over forty albums, selling over six million records at home and abroad. Mambazo’s 2006 release Long Walk to Freedom features various icons of contemporary pop music, including Natalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan, Melissa Etheridge and Emmylou Harris, and was nominated for two Grammy Awards, marking the group’s eleventh and twelfth nominations.

In addition to musical awards, Mambazo’s documentary film, ‘On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps To Freedom’ was nominated for an Academy Award as Best Short Documentary Film in 2001 and for an Emmy Award for Best Cultural Documentary on American television.

Furthermore, Mambazo’s work in ‘The Song of Jacob Zulu,’ a play written about the apartheid era, resulted in six Tony nominations. Other recent special projects include joining singer Josh Groban on his latest CD as well as appearing at several of his concerts.