This actor stood up for artificially

Features and Entertainment | 724 February 2020

Dani van der Horst J oseph Shabalala, the founder of the awardwinning choral group, Ladysmith Black Mambazodied at age 78 on 11 February in Pretoria. The news was confirmed by the group’s manager, Xolani Majozi. Ladysmith Black Mambazo is an all-male choral group, that follows the traditional Zulu isicathamiya style of singing. Shabalala was the leader and musical director of the group and played a key role in introducing Zulu music to the international community.

Paul Simon of folk-rock duo, Simon & Garfunkel, stated in an Instagram caption on his official account: “I admired him for his music and Godly spirit. People love Mambazo. I love Joseph. We had a great time.” Simon worked closely with Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo on his 1986 solo album, Graceland. Joseph Shabalala is the ‘Joseph’ referred to in the opening line of “Under African Skies” from the Graceland album. The group collaborated with Simon on the tracks “Diamonds on the Souls of her Shoes” and “Homeless”. But this group is far more than just a feature. The group has been nominated for 17 Grammys and have won five. Their first win was for their album Shaka Zulu and the title “Best Traditional Folk Recording” in 1988. Simon helped produce the album and has been a major contributor to, and supporter of, their success. According to an obituary that was published in The Guardian, Shabalala grew up on a farm near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal. Shabalala was joined on the farm by his second cousin, Albert Mazibuko, who would later join him in Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Shabalala later moved to Durban where he worked in a factory and sang in the vocal groups, the Durban Choir, and the Highlanders. In 1959, he established the vocal group Ezimnyama, which would later be renamed Ladysmith Black Mambazo. The name was chosen by Shabalala and is deeply personal. “Ladysmith” is a tribute to where he grew up, Joseph Shabalala: A music legend

“Black” refers to the strongest animals on the farm, the black oxen, and finally, “Mambazo” is the Zulu word for “axe” which represents the group’s vocal strength.

Shabalala retired from singing with the group in 2014 but in 2019 he spoke to the Hampton Arts Commission before a concert. He stated that “Ladysmith Black Mambazo is a family” and throughout the years he has performed alongside his brothers, cousins, and even his sons.

He claimed that his four sons, who are currently members of the group, are the future and because of them “the vision and message will continue”. “The dream I had over 45 years ago will continue well into the 21st century. Ladysmith Black Mambazo must continue as the message of Peace, Love and Harmony must never be silenced” said Shabalala

Shabalala made a name for South African music during a dark time in the country’s history. As Paul Simon states “Joseph Shabalala took Ladysmith Black Mambazo and brought their music all over the world. Imagine! What a great accomplishment for a boy from apartheid South Africa”. He refused to let anything stand in the way of his dream to bring the music of his people to the rest of the world.

President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his condolences to the musician’s family and quantified that: “The passing of Joseph Shabalala is a terribly sad moment for a nation and a world in whose ears the isicathamiya and mbube crafted by Ladysmith Black Mambazo will ring for generations to come”.

Joseph Shabalala will forever be remembered as an iconic South African. May he rest in peace. Kendra Connock T he student life is a multi-faceted one. There will be parts of your university experience filled with books, loose pages of notes, and seemingly endless hours of highlighting. Other parts will be characterised by loud music, energetic dancing, and laughs with your friends. In-between the academics and your busy social calendar, you might find a couple hours of free time to dedicate to something other than your university experience.

Enter the University of Pretoria’s Student Societies. From day-houses, to faculty houses, Interest Groups, to Social Awareness Groups; UP has a vast variety of Student Societies to keep you engaged in university life and to help you make the most of your time at the university.

UP has four day-houses which offer nonresidence students the opportunity to take part in university traditions like InSync and RAG. They also participate in socials and sports games with other day-houses and university residences. If you’re a day student at the university and looking for a taste of the residence life, you should definitely consider joining a Day House!

Every faculty at the university is represented by a faculty house which will host a number of events throughout the year and offer academic support to its members. One can easily find information about faculty houses on the UP website. Faculty houses give members the opportunity to get involved in sporting events and cultural activities, as well as receive academic guidance from students within their own faculty. Be sure to keep an eye on your faculty house’s announcements to stay tuned on the exciting opportunities they present all year round, including field trips, industry visits, and guest speakers aimed at personal and professional development.

Aside from the availability of day and faculty houses, UP has a host of options available to its students covering a variety of interest fields. There are a number of religious organizations on campus where you can enjoy time with like-minded people who share the same beliefs as you do. University is a great place to explore your individuality and start forming your own opinions and preferences. There are heaps of political organisations on campus which will give you the chance to explore the South African political scene and learn more about the people and parties to vote for. Getting involved in a political organisation on campus is a great introduction to the world of politics and a way to safely start exploring your own political beliefs before you enter the ‘real’ world of being a responsible citizen.

Academic societies exist for students to connect over their studies, whether they are studying the same degree or not. Specific societies exist for students of Geology, Quantity Surveying, and Veterinary Sciences. There are also less specific societies which cater to students of all degree programmes who are dedicated to academic excellence, societies like the Golden Key International Honours Society.

There are social societies which cater for those with an adventurous spirit and a need for physical activity. Pretoria’s excellent weather makes your university years perfect to try out hiking, rock climbing, or any of the other incredible sports offered at UP. From Martial Arts, to Gymnastics, Fencing, to Dancing; TuksSport offers an amazing variety of sports for you to get some exercise, meet some new friends, and maybe even represent your university in your sport of choice!

Arguably one of the best ways to spend your free time is to dedicate it to someone else. If you’re looking to get involved in community engagement or social activism, take a look through UP’s societies to find a cause that resonates with you. Societies like TULIP, Pledge a Pad, and Psyche are all dedicated to community engagement and giving back to those in our communities who are less fortunate. Joining a community service-based organisation is a great way to meet people, gain some experience in volunteering, and ultimately, a really rewarding way to spend your free time. Whether your preference is for a social club, a religious society, or a sports team; whether you’re looking for a way to give back, or help in achieving your academic aspirations; UP has a long list of societies of every description. Research your options and consider attending society meetings in order to see what the society is like. Everyone is likely to find something that fits their needs in terms of a UP Student Society. Tiffany Smith S outh Africa is frequently seen as a mix of diversity, culture and controversy. The news is often a negative reminder of high crime rates, the struggling economy and pervasive corruption. Some people find it increasingly challenging to be optimistic about the future of our country, yet there are still many who remain hopeful that South Africa will flourish and overcome its battles in time. PDBY asked students what it means to be a South African within today’s climate of infamous load shedding, State of the Nation Address (SONA) and with regard to the #ImStaying phenomenon.

Melissa Agrela, BA Psychology:

I will not be staying in South Africa forever. However, it is certainly a place like no other. You have to take the bad with the good. For example, I consider load shedding a blessing in disguise because it gives us valuable family time. This place is like no other, the people are awesome and it just has an amazing vibe.

Nicholas Veale, BCom General:

I really like my country and I want to stay for the people, weather, [and] everything. It’s a cool place and I’ve met amazing people along the way. It is so culturally rich. Where else can you find 11 official languages in one country? Of course if you want to leave then that is your choice, but I think there are just so many amazing opportunities here. It is such a special place of many fond memories. Of course it’s not perfect what with load shedding etc. but the impact the younger generation brings could easily lead to issues being solved over time. There is simply nowhere like South Africa

Student Societies PDBWhy: What it means to be South African

Danielle du Toit, BA Psychology:

I think the #ImStaying movement is fantastic because people are sharing and looking for reasons to stay and not looking for reasons to leave which is awesome.

It depends [on] what you make of it. For some, it is a big challenge, with studying by candlelight, sitting in traffic on the way to school ,etc. but we are still clinging to the hope that it is going to be okay and things will change. There is loyalty despite the tough times ,which shows that no matter what goes wrong, there are people out there willing to try and make a change and not give up. Being a South African means being hopeful, loyal, strong, and faithful enough to believe in change. I think those who believe in change and #ImStaying are those who will try make a difference in whatever way they can. Humairaa Ismail, BCom Accounting Sciences:

Being a South African is great all year round as the warm temperature conditions are always perfect for a dip in our beautiful beaches. Christmas in South Africa happens to be in summer so we get to experience the day in the warm sun with braais and beach visits. With global warming being a major factor influencing our climate, we now have extremely cold winters and, if we’re lucky, we’re showered by frosty snow. Our rotating seasonal climate can be experienced all in one day sometimes, starting off with lots of sunshine, followed by a thunderstormand gale force winds, and back to sunshine. In general, being a South African is great as we have beautiful weather almost all of the time. TRY @UP Image: Cletus Mulaudi Illustration: Promise Zulu The views expressed by students in PDBWhy do not reflect the views or position of PDBY or its staff members. ?