African triumph in Amsterdam -Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Ziggo Dome 2012

Paul Simon & Ladysmith Black Mambazo - Diamonds On The Soles Of Her Shoes -vid by Kyleathome59

Tonight  the documentary ‘Under African Skies’ will be showed at Amsterdam’s Tuschinski theatre, in the presence of Paul Simon.

Just last night the 70-year-old singer celebrated the 25th anniversary of his album “Graceland” and the 94th birthday of Nelson Mandela,  in Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome in a relaxed, sometimes exuberant African party.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo were on stage with other African guests like

singer Thandiswa Mazwai and Hugh Masekela who touches with his tribute to  Mandela and then with the beautiful ‘Stimela’, capturing the soul of the African continent.

But it was the a capella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo from KwaZulu-Natal that stole the show.

It was the same group that guided the American in 1986 and their leader Joseph Shabalala shone on last night’s stage accompanied by a triumphant group. ”Hello My Baby” and “Nomathemba” started their performance, then Paul Simon joined the collective.

The real Graceland classic ”Homeless” was masterfully sung, and the title track and “You Can Call Me Al”. The end of the concert deployed a set of Simon & Garfunkel hits. “The Sound of Silence”, sung by all the spectators and ‘The Boxer” before closing with “Late In The Evening” and “Still Crazy After All These Years”. A brilliant encore of a memorable evening.

As an inspiration for the recording of the now classic ‘Graceland’ Paul Simon has frequently named other South African groups as The Boyoyo Boys, General Shirinda and the Gaza Sisters but also Ray Phiri of Stimela-fame.

See also previous posts two rare 45′s by Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Stimela -Look, Listen And Decide 1986

The film “Under African Skies” is added as a DVD to this year’s 25th  anniversary edition of Graceland.

Paul Simon with Ladysmith Black Mambazo in the Ziggo Dome 2012.

Pics: Novum/ Michel Utrecht

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