Memorable tour

-It was touching to take part in Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s tour back to the townships! Kristin Asbjørnsen shares her memorable moments after having toured with the legendary group in South Africa.

Photo: Tone S. Olsen

The tour was a part of the music program Mmino’s 10th anniversary – a collaboration project between Concerts Norway and National Arts Council in South-Africa.

The program is financed by The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Embassy in South Africa, and Department of Arts and Culture in South-Africa. The main goal is to strengthen the music arena in South Africa and to forge lasting bonds between Norwegian and South African organizations, institutions and musicians by providing grants for projects in the fields of music education and exchange.

Read more about Mmino

Memorable moments
Kristin Asbjørnsen has just returned to Norway after two weeks in South-Africa. A tour filled with memories:

-One special memory is that of the beautiful, old man who just couldn’t believe that Ladysmith Black Mambazo (LBM) was going to play in his township, Bela Bela. He was confident that all the audience was going to hear, was music from a cd player. When he realized that LBM actually was on the stage, he danced through the whole concert, including on stage! Kristin tells.

Photo: Tone S. Olsen

Back to the roots
Ladysmith Black Mambazo is South Africa’s bestselling group world wide. This year the a capella singers celebrate 50 years as a group. Many people outside South Africa know LBM through Paul Simon’s iconic record Graceland. In addition to this collaboration, the group has played together with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Josh Groban, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris and Ben Harper.

After fifty years of big projects outside of South Africa, they now returned to their roots, and Kristin Asbjørnsen got the chance to be with them. The tour was called Back to eKasi, a journey back to the townships, where it all started for these musicians half a century ago.

The group's founder, Joseph Shabalala (70), and Kristin Asbjørnsen. Photo: Tone S. Olsen

Legends
For Kristin it was an honour to sing with these legendary musicians:

-LBM is a group of fine musicians, their musical expression is so rich and organic, both in texture in the arrangements as well as in the playfulness in which the voices sing together.  It feels like a gift to have been on a musical journey with such open minded and skilful singers like these.

Asbjørnsen says it was great, both musically and culturally to be part of this tour. Giving concerts where people actually live, made a great impression on her:
-t was touching to see how much this meant to so many, to experience such a devoted audience. This has reminded me about the importance of culture and music in people’s lives – when it comes to identity, a feeling of community and as a source of power.



Photo: Tone S. Olsen

Well received
Asbjørnsen appreciated the heartly welcome she felt, both from the musicians as well as the audience:

- LBM hasn’t played in townships for over 30 years, the audience sung along and it was obvious that this was important for everybody. To me, it was very special to experience the spontaneous response to everything I did musically, the way they received me, my expression and my interpretation of the material.

Kristin hopes she will get the chance to sing with LBM again:

-We haven’t decided on anything yet, but I think we will meet again at some point. We all want that, and it has already been expressed a wish to prolong the tour, so maybe I’ll be invited to more concerts?!

Read more on The Norwegain Embassy's homepage

Photo: Tone S. Olsen