An enriching lecture. A soulful concert. A renewed commitment. The University of Fort Hare (UFH) has reignited its landmark partnership with South Africa’s most celebrated cultural ambassadors, the five-time Grammy Award-winning group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo (LBM).
First envisioned a few years ago by UFH Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sakhela Buhlungu, and championed by the Music Department, the partnership has been given fresh energy this year. This renewal comes with the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between these two iconic institutions.
At its core, the collaboration is about more than music. It is about safeguarding heritage, celebrating history, and creating new opportunities for learning, research, and cultural exchange.
Honouring Dr Shabalala
The rekindled relationship was launched with a powerful lecture honouring LBM’s late founder, Dr Joseph Shabalala. It was followed by a soul-stirring concert by the group. Both events took place on Sunday, 28 September, at the East London Guild Theatre.
The lecture, delivered by Professor Patricia Opondo, an Applied Ethnomusicologist and senior lecturer in African Music and Dance at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, was titled “Harmony and Heritage: The Legacy of Joseph Shabalala and Isicathamiya.” Professor Opondo painted Shabalala not only as a musician but as a custodian of African memory. She described him as an artist whose harmonies carried the story of a people to the world stage.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for. Ladysmith Black Mambazo took to the stage. Their performance was nothing short of breathtaking, their rich voices weaving together in perfect isicathamiya rhythm. They told stories of struggle, hope, and resilience. For many in the audience, it was a reminder of why this group has touched hearts across the globe for decades.
Beyond Music
The newly forged partnership will go far beyond concerts and lectures. According to the MOU, UFH and LBM will work together to build the LBM Collection. This collection, an archive of the group’s vast treasures, will include recordings, unpublished music, costumes, letters, and behind-the-scenes preparations. It will reside at UFH, creating a rich resource for research, teaching, and community engagement.
Professor Neil Roos, UFH Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities, described the joint venture as Fort Hare’s way of living up to its role as a custodian of African heritage. “Such partnerships are vital for an institution that aspires to be unique and distinctive in South Africa’s and Africa’s cultural landscape. LBM are, without a doubt, a cultural treasure to have emerged from this country. We are privileged that they have chosen the University of Fort Hare to house their records.”
In addition to the annual Dr Joseph Shabalala Lecture and LBM concerts, UFH has committed to funding a PhD, master’s students, and a postdoctoral researcher working in the field of Isicathamiya music.
Preserving Heritage
Mr Sibongiseni Shabalala, son of Dr Joseph Shabalala, said this partnership ensures that the story of LBM and the tradition of Isicathamiya will remain alive for future generations. “It is very important for universities to celebrate music icons. It’s a way of reimagining the sound, artistry, and craft of people such as Dr Shabalala. It involves passing these works from one generation to the next.”
“This partnership will ensure that LBM’s legacy lives on for decades. We hope that young people are inspired and learn how music, which is deeply rooted in culture, can be used as a powerful vehicle for reimagining and preserving our heritage,” he added.
According to the agreement, a joint steering committee will oversee projects. This will open doors for concerts, creative collaborations, and new opportunities to blend scholarship with artistry.
It is safe to say that “Homelessness” has been kept at bay, Ladysmith Black Mambazo has found its home, right here at Fort Hare.
