World-renowned isicathamiya group Ladysmith Black Mambazo has started a campaign called Backing the Back-up Artist to help musicians who were affected by the COVID-19 lockdown. The more prominent artists were able to do some performances on social media or online during lockdown when music festivals and concerts could not take place.
This source of income was, however, not available to back-up artists and technicians.
The event at Inanda, north of Durban, was part of honouring the Ladysmith Black Mambazo founder Joseph Shabalala, who died two years ago.
Nosipho Dlamini is a member of the group Amazing Voice. During COVID-19 lockdown the group could not perform. Providing for their families was a struggle.
Some of the members’ children have dropped out of school because there wasn’t money to buy school uniforms.
Dlamini says backing artists are among the worst affected in the music industry.
“Many competition areas were closed, and we couldn’t do anything including performing. So, we really need assistance because we use the little we have to support our families,” says Nosipho Dlamini.
Ntombi Lushaba is another member of the isicathamiya group called Mama Africa. She says the music industry has created many job opportunities, but the majority of backing artists are unemployed.
“We are the most affected community in South Africa as the closure of stadiums and theatres totally killed us and there is nothing we put on the table for our families,” says Ntombi Lushaba.
World-renowned group has started a programme called Backing the Back-up Artists – the programme started by Ladysmith Black Mambazo is also a celebration of Nelson Mandela’s release from prison on 11 February 1990.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo has formed a partnership with Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to help artists.
Co-founder of the group, Albert Mazibuko has asked others to come on board and to lend a hand.
“We thought that it will be a good idea to do something to help other artists as they were affected by COVID and at the moment, we help them with food parcels. We call on other companies to come and assist. For instance, artists need transport and uniform that can be appreciated. We want this event to be a continuous event to use to remember the legacy of Dr Shabalala every year,” says Mazibuko.
VIDEO: Ladysmith Black Mambazo bid farewell to the late Joseph Shabalala:
IDC Community Social Investment specialist, Solomon Kganyago says they are happy to be part of the programme.
“Today they are commemorating the day whereby the founder of the group died on this day, so the programme came at the right time and the size of the time inside can sustain the family for the period of four to five months,” says Solomon Kganyago.
Meanwhile, the group says the Ladysmith Black Mambazo Mobile Academy programme has produced positive results as some artists across the country have signed deals with reputable recording companies.
