Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s ‘Wise Elder’ Albert Mazibuko Dies at 77
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s ‘Wise Elder’ Albert Mazibuko Dies at 77
Ilana KaplanTue, April 7, 2026 at 4:36 PM UTC
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Albert Mazibuko in February 2017 in Los AngelesCredit: Frazer Harrison/Getty -
Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s Albert Mazibuko has died at the age of 77
News of his death was confirmed on Sunday, April 5 by his bandmates in a Facebook post
“Albert was a saint. He was kind to a fault. He loved traveling the world, spreading the mission and music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo," they wrote
Ladysmith Black Mambazo's "wise elder" Albert Mazibuko has died. He was 77.
News of his death was confirmed on Sunday, April 5 in a Facebook post shared by his bandmates. No cause of death has been revealed.
"Dear Friends. It is with immense sadness that we tell you that our brother, Albert Mazibuko, has left us this Easter Sunday to be with his savior in heaven. Mdletshe Albert Mazibuko, or just 'Albert' to anyone who ever met him, was the best of the best," the post began.
The post paid tribute to Mazibuko's years of dedication to the South African male choral group.
"Albert was a saint. He was kind to a fault. He loved traveling the world, spreading the mission and music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He never tired of talking about the group's history and its desire to spread 'Peace, Love and Harmony' everywhere people had ears to listen," it continued.
The post continued, "Albert became the main interviewee for members of the press who wanted to speak with the group. He never said No to a chance to talk about Ladysmith Black Mambazo."
Mazibuko's bandmates noted, "how beautiful he was inside and out."
Alongside the post, Ladysmith Black Mambazo shared a short film of the late musician talking about the band.
"HAMBA KAHLE MFETHU...GO WELL OUR GOOD FRIEND," the post concluded. "We will update you with further news, videos and pictures celebrating the life of Albert. We cannot express how broken our hearts are at this time."
Mazibuko was asked by his cousin Joseph Shabalala, who founded Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1960, to join nine years later.
Throughout Ladysmith Black Mambazo's tenure, they combined indigenous Zulu songs and dances with South African isicathamiya, an acapella tradition which often features a shuffling dance. The group offered songs of hope and love amid South Africa's apartheid.
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In a 2015 interview with BBC's Soul Music show, Mazibuko said that apartheid was "very harsh to us."
"I was working at a cotton factory... when we came out from work, we saw the police, they were lining up," he said at the time.
Mazibuko also recalled the need for him and his bandmates to carry ID books amid apartheid, which restricted the movement of Black South Africans.
"If you don't carry it, you're arrested. In my life, I was so afraid of being arrested… even now I'm afraid," he said.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo in May 1988 in AustraliaCredit: Robert Pearce/Getty
Following a radio performance in 1970, the group earned a recording contract, and released Africa's first gold-selling album Amabutho in 1973.
The outfit earned worldwide fame when Paul Simon asked them to sing on his 1986 album Graceland.
For the next 55 years, Mazibuko remained a member of the Ladysmith Black Mambazo, and per the Facebook post, was Shabalala's "right-hand man."
After Shabalala's retirement in 2014, Mazibuko assumed the role of "wise elder" for the younger members of the outfit, per the post.
Mazibuko met his wife Lillian Dlomo Mazibuko in 1971, and they married five years later. They shared four children.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo currently features a lineup of longtime members and more contemporary artists.
The group had been on tour throughout the U.S. since February and was set to perform their final stateside show on Friday, April 10.
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
