Umthombo Wamanzi is an album by the South African isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
Whilst the group's previous output had been, for the most part, entirely composed by lead singer and founder Joseph Shabalala, Umthombo Wamanzi contained primarily traditional Zulu hymns re-arranged by Shabalala, such as "Uzube Nami Baba" and "Ungikhumbule".
The members who sang in the Umthombo Wamanzi album were Abednego Mazibuko Jockey Shabalala Albert Mazibuko Jabulani Dubazana Headman Shabalala Fikile Groonwell Khumalo Russell Mthembu Joseph Shabalala.
[5] AllMusic wrote that "Shabalala and his bandmates provide a stunning look at some relatively simple lyrical works that are ornamented through their harmonic work to become a cappella masterpieces.
"[1] The Richmond Times-Dispatch wrote that "a lot of these tunes have the sturdy Calvinist determination to have come out of some Protestant missionary hymnbook, but what Shabalala and his voices do with their phrases and rhythms gives earnest zeal an ecstatic tingle.