Beyond Graceland: Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a 2023 documentary that does a magnificent job of turning the spotlight back onto a musical group that entered many of our lives in the 1980s via Paul Simon’s landmark album Graceland. The movie follows the group from its humble beginnings in South Africa to touring the world behind the fame generated by Simon’s hit single “Homeless.” Their unique and powerful sound found them performing with the likes of Michael Jackson, Dolly Parton, and Oprah Winfrey to name a few. MVD Visual’s DVD release lands just in time for Graceland‘s 40th anniversary.
Buy Beyond Graceland: Ladysmith Black MambazoBeyond Graceland is filled with the wonderful music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo as it tells the story of the band’s beginning and rise to global fame which led to multiple Grammy awards, TV commercials, and even their own stage play. The film traces the music and sound from its roots in the traditional styles of Isicathamiya (traditional Zulu music) and Mbube (South African acapella vocalizing) to its incorporation of a spiritual gospel sound. The group’s name itself is derived from their home village, the strong black ox used in daily life and the Zulu word for “chopping axe.”
Directors Carolyn Carew and Phumelelo Supa Mbele do a fine job in pulling together insightful interviews with founder Joseph Shambala (1940-2020) and many of the group’s founding members that were filmed or taped throughout the years. Also featured are interviews with group members as well as those musicians they have recorded with such as Paul Simon and Dolly Parton. The movie is highlighted by lots of vintage photos and archival footage of them recording and performing at various events. The only drawback are the unsubtitled portions filmed in the speakers native languages but the accompanying visuals and following English interviews kind of cover the gaps.
Beyond Graceland is an enjoyable 90-minute look at the career of a musical group that almost everyone has heard somewhere, sometime, if they know and appreciate them or not. This documentary is a must for fans of world music and good music in general.
