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Shaka Zulu (album)

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Shaka Zulu

| type = studio

| artist = Ladysmith Black Mambazo

| cover = Shaka Zulu.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1987

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Isicathamiya, World Music

| length = 36:41

| label = Warner Bros.

| producer = Paul Simon

| prev_title = Ezulwini Siyakhona

| prev_year = 1986

| next_title = Thandani

| next_year = 1987

}}

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = Allmusic

|rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web |last= Ruhlmann| first= William| url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/shaka-zulu-mw0000190603|title=Shaka Zulu - Ladysmith Black Mambazo|website= Allmusic| publisher= Rovi Corporation|accessdate=2012-08-11}}

|rev2 = Robert Christgau

|rev2Score = A−{{cite news|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=June 2, 1987| url= http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv6-87.php|title=Consumer Guide|newspaper=The Village Voice|location=New York|accessdate=2012-08-11}}

}}

Shaka Zulu is a 1987 album by South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

History

Following the collaboration on Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland which brought the group to international prominence, Shaka Zulu (produced by Simon) marked the band's first genuine international hit, securing them an American audience which would be built upon by the successes of Journey of Dreams (1988) and Two Worlds, One Heart (1990). Shaka Zulu was a collection of newly recorded versions of older Mambazo hits, such as "Unomathemba", "Hello My Baby" and "Lomhlaba Kawunoni".

Shaka Zulu won a Grammy in 1988 for Best Traditional Folk Recording.

The album was also featured in Robert Dimery's 2006 musical reference book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Reception

In his consumer guide for The Village Voice, Robert Christgau felt the album had a "generalized gospel yearning", and a lyric sheet and songs in English that would appeal to Americans.

In a retrospective review for Allmusic, William Ruhlmann felt the album was "pristinely recorded" and is the band's most accessible album.

Track listing

All songs composed by Joseph Shabalala and produced by Paul Simon

  1. "Unomathemba" - 3:47
  2. "Hello My Baby" - 3:09
  3. "Golgotha" - 3:57
  4. "King of Kings" - 4:07
  5. "Lomhlaba Kawunoni" - 2:55
  6. "How Long?" - 3:05
  7. "Ikhaya Lamaqhawe" - 3:13
  8. "Yibo Labo" - 4:39
  9. "Rain, Rain Beautiful Rain" - 2:18
  10. "Wawusho Kubani?" - 5:31

Charts

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ Chart performance for Shaka Zulu

!Chart (1987)

!Peak
position

scope="row"|Australian Albums (Kent Music Report){{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=172}}

| style="text-align:center;"|27

{{album chart|Netherlands|8|artist=Ladysmith Black Mambazo|album=Shaka Zulu|rowheader=true|access-date=18 August 2022}}
{{album chart|New Zealand|27|artist=Ladysmith Black Mambazo|album=Shaka Zulu|rowheader=true|access-date=18 August 2022}}
{{album chart|UK2|34|date=19870503|rowheader=true|access-date=18 August 2022}}

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.radio3net.ro/dbartists/supersearch/U2hha2EgWnVsdSA=/Shaka%20Zulu Shaka Zulu ] (Adobe Flash) at Radio3Net (streamed copy where licensed)

{{Ladysmith Black Mambazo}}

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Category:Ladysmith Black Mambazo albums

Category:1987 albums

Category:Cultural depictions of Shaka