Culture

Things You Didn’t Know About South Africa

When you think of South Africa, the first thing that probably comes to mind is Nelson Mandela and apartheid.

Published

11 years ago

October 19, 2013

Unheard Voices Staff

Photo by Jean van der Meulen: https://www.pexels.com/photo/body-of-water-between-buildings-3736245/

1. KwaZulu-Natal province inspired one of the world’s best-selling albums in South Africa

Paul Simon introduced the world to isicathamiya music, a form of Zulu a cappella, when he teamed up with Ladysmith Black Mambazo for his album “Graceland.”

Named after the KwaZulu-Natal town they come from, Ladysmith Black Mambazo is but one of hundreds of similar groups that can be seen and heard performing regularly at shows that resemble sporting competitions.

Often involving as many as 30 groups, these competitions usually take place in large cities, such as Johannesburg and Durban, starting on a Saturday night and carrying on until well after the sun comes up on Sunday morning.

Related Topics:Featured South Africa

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Unheard Voices Staff

Unheard Voices is an award-winning news magazine that started in 2004 as a newsletter in the Asbury Park, Neptune, and Long Branch, NJ areas to broadening into a recognized Black online media outlet. The company is one of the few outlets dedicated to covering social justice issues. They are the recipient of the NAACP Unsung Hero Award and CV Magazine's Innovator Award for Best Social Justice Communications Company.