Bhekizizwe Joseph Shabalala (28 August 1940 – 11 February 2020)[4][5] was a South African singer and musician who was the founder and musical director of the choral group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
[6][7] Bhekizizwe Joseph Shabalala was born on 28 August 1940, in the town of Ladysmith (eMnambithi district) in the KwaZulu-Natal region of South Africa.
During this time, he was spotted by a well-known group, the Durban Choir, after he delighted audiences with his smooth guitar playing and soprano voice.
On the night of 10 December 1991, his brother and fellow member Headman Shabalala was killed by an off-duty white security guard near the town of Ladysmith.
[10] Joseph, helped by his beliefs, persevered, and the group continued; the members now included his brother Jockey, close relatives Albert and Abednego Mazibuko, Russel Mthembu and Jabulani Dubazana and his sons Sibongiseni, Thamsanqa, Thulani and Msizi.
Six months after Nellie's death, Joseph Shabalala married Thoko Maduna, which was characterized as a "controversial stunt” by the South African press.
[6] Tragedy struck again in June 2004 when his brother (and former Mambazo member) Ben Shabalala was shot and killed by an unknown individual whilst driving his two children to school.
[14] In January 2008, Shabalala announced that his youngest son, Thamsanqa, would take over as leader of Ladysmith Black Mambazo when the time came for Joseph to retire from international touring.