Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

When I received this album in the mail the first thing I did was listen to it from start to finish, next I surfed the net to find more information about the group. What I found were endless pages about the history and culture behind this soulful singing group from South Africa that has managed to make a big mark in musical history.

After achieving notable success in their native African homeland, Ladysmith Black Mambazo sang backup with Paul Simon in his Grammy winning album, Graceland and subsequently gained popularity across the globe. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is now a well known group having racked up 22 musical awards and nominations including 2 Grammy wins, as well as Oscar and Emmy nominations for the documentary film, On Tiptoe: Gentle Steps to Freedom, a film that tells much of the history behind this influential music group.

The fact that I know not one lick of the African Zulu language made no difference at all when it came to enjoying this album. Somehow Ladysmith Black Mambazo is able to cross the language barrier and communicate with the sheer power of their harmonies and vocal skill. Their singing is intense and it just feels spiritual, it’s like you can sense the deeper meaning that would otherwise be hidden in the foreign Zulu tongue.

Each track on Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu sends a message of love to God, promotion of peace, and a movement away from worldly things through spirituality. This is especially prevalent in the album’s English songs, Prince of Peace and This is the Way We Do as the group sings of a great love of God through the body and heart, and the power of peace and prayer.

While of course this album does not fit into the conformities of American pop or rock as it might in African society, it does seem at home in the Gospel section. It’s great background music to chill out to or reflect, so if you’re in the market for some African harmonies or perhaps some spiritual guidance this is an excellent pick.