President Cyril Ramaphosa has pledged to build the Mambazo Academy for South African Music and Culture in honour of the late Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder, Dr Joseph Shabalala.
Ramaphosa was speaking at the Special Official Funeral of the legendary musician held at the Ladysmith Indoor Sports Centre in Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday.
“It was also his greatest wish to see the Mambazo Academy for South African Music and Culture up and running,” said Ramaphosa.
“I am encouraged that just last week Premier [Sihle] Zikalala addressed this matter at a memorial service. We must do all we can to see this dream realized, and I call on both the public and private sectors to join hands to make it a reality.”
Shabalala died on February 11 in Pretoria, at the age of 78, after a long illness.
Ramaphosa said the academy will build on the work began by the group two years ago as part of a Mobile Academy Programme supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture.
“In 2018 the group began visiting high schools in this province offering music workshops for young aspiring artists,” he said.
“I know Bab’ Shabalala had wished to see this expanded to the rest of the country and we will make sure this materializes.”
Shabalala will be posthumously nominated for the gold national Order of Ikhamanga.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo was awarded a silver national Order of Ikhamanga as a group in October 2008.
(Compiled by Charles Molele)
