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Ramaphosa says Shabalala will be nominated for the individual Order of Ikhamanga

Joseph Shabalala
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President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that the late Joseph Shabalala will be nominated for the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold. The Order of Ikhamanga recognises South African citizens who have excelled in the fields of arts, culture, literature, music, journalism and sport.

Shabalala died on 11 February at the age of 78 at the Life Eugene Marais Hospital in Pretoria. He founded multi-award winning group Ladysmith Black Mambazo.

The group received airplay on Ukhozi FM (then Radio Zulu), which led to a recording contract with Gallo Records in 1970.

The group achieved international fame when they collaborated with Paul Simon on his Graceland album in 1986.

Shabalala led the group to five Grammy Awards among other awards. He was laid to rest on Saturday.

Ramaphosa says that if there is anyone who deserves the honour, it is Shabalala.

“Our nation gave Ladysmith Black Mambazo recognition an honour in 2008 when they received a national order Inkamanga in silver. This, they received as a group. I’m going to be nominating uBab’uShabalala himself to be awarded the national Order of Inkamanga in Gold posthumously. If there is anyone who deserves richly, it is uBab’uJoseph Shabalala.”

In the video below, President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the eulogy at Joseph Shabalala’s funeral: 

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