Thulani Shabalala (born 1968) is a member of

Ladysmith Black Mambazo Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won m ...

, a

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...

n choral group founded in 1960 by his father

Joseph Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...

. Thulani was born in

Ladysmith Ladysmith may refer to: * Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa * Ladysmith, British Columbia, Canada * Ladysmith, Wisconsin, United States * Ladysmith, New South Wales, Australia * Ladysmith, Virginia, United States * Ladysmith Island, Queenslan ...

(eMnambithi district) to

and his wife Nellie. In 1976, Joseph brought together his six sons to form Mshengu White Mambazo, Ladysmith's 'junior choir', in which Thulani sung as one of the bass voices. After the murder of his uncle

Headman Shabalala Headman Msongelwa Shabalala (10 October 1945 – 10 December 1991) was a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded by his brother Joseph. Headman was born in Ladysmith, in the eMnambithi area and grew up with hi ...

in December 1991 and the retirement of several other members Geophrey Mdletshe and

Ben Shabalala Ladysmith Black Mambazo are a South African male choral group singing in the local vocal styles of ''isicathamiya'' and '' mbube''. They became known internationally after singing with Paul Simon on his 1986 album ''Graceland'', and have won m ...

), Joseph later recruited Thulani and his brothers Sibongiseni, Thamsanqa and Msizi. Thulani has been a part of the line-up since 1993 and is one of four basses (the others being

Russel Mthembu Ndoda Russel Mthembu is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 by close friend Joseph Shabalala. Russel was born in Ladysmith, South Africa, and joined Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1976. It was at this ti ...

Abednego Mazibuko Mpindela Abednego Mazibuko is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 - and still led - by his cousin Joseph Shabalala, Joseph."LadySmith Black Mambazo." MazAlien. Web. 09 Nov. 2010. . Abednego was born i ...

and

Sibongiseni Shabalala Sibongiseni Lucas Shabalala (born 20 May 1972), is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 (formerly led) by his father Joseph. Sibongiseni was born in Ladysmith (eMnambithi district) to Joseph and his l ...

). Thulani is also a member of the group Izimpande, formed in 2002 with ten native South Africans who were raised on the music and native dance of South Africa. To date, they have released two albums, '' Asibuye Emasisweni (Back to my Roots)'' and '' Unity is Power''. Although Thulani is now making his name known in South Africa, he also continues to be a part of Black Mambazo.

References

Ladysmith Black Mambazo members 20th-century South African male singers 1968 births Living people 21st-century South African male singers {{SouthAfrica-musician-stub