Harmony

I wish Mummy had been here in Atlanta on Valentine's Day. Bruce and I went with our friends, the Jacksons, to the Rialto, where we enjoyed an outstanding performance by Ladysmith Black Mambazo from South Africa. And it was truly a performance. They didn't just sing well, they entertained. They are such energetic musicians, jumping around while singing. We may not have understood the words to most of their songs, since only a couple were in English, but music truly is universal. Their singing was superb and their harmonizing amazing. I'm so glad we were able to listen to them live. The icing on the cake would have been to see them perform with Paul Simon, of course, but this was still a marvelous concert.

I didn't know before the meaning behind their name. Joseph Shabalala (how can you have a name like that and not be musical?!), who started the group in the early 60s, came from a town called Ladysmith. Black is a reference to oxen, the strongest of farm animals, and Mambazo is the Zulu word for axe, chosen as a symbol of the group's ability to "chop down" any singing rival who might challenge them.

If they return, I believe we will be at that concert, as well.