Mechanics Hall is the premier event venue and concert hall in Central Massachusetts.
The a cappella vocal group that has been creating music for over sixty years brings South African musical tradition to Worcester. In partnership with Crocodile River Music, the Worcester-based organization showcasing African artists, Ladysmith Black Mambazo shares their trademark tight harmony and exciting rhythm. You may know the group from Paul Simon’s Graceland album, but since then we’ve heard so much more from the ensemble, which is one of the (if not the) most famous South African musical groups of all time.
In this performance filled with groove, traditional instrumentation, and energy that’s filled the hall since 1960, audiences are also introduced to historically informed style. Bringing Isicathamiya to the stage – a style of Zulu a capella – the group provides a powerful and approachable introduction to South African musical style.
Crocodile River Music was established in 2011 by Zach Combs and Issa Coulibaly to support African artists in presenting music, dance, and art that both educates and connects audiences of all ages, backgrounds, and capabilities.
In 2012, we launched the African Arts in Education program, allowing us to extend our reach to schools and community groups. This program has served over 200,000 students in its first ten years, leaving a lasting impact through interactive workshops, compelling performances, and engaging school residencies.
Today as a Worcester-based nonprofit organization, our offerings – including concerts, workshops, lectures, and other educational programs – showcase emerging and established African artists to inform, connect, and inspire audiences.
Let us tell you a story. An impossible to believe, yet, true story. Once upon a time there was a teenage boy working on his family farm in apartheid South Africa. The year was 1960. This boy loved to sing, in fact he loved to sing so much that he allowed himself an impossible dream. In his dream he would create a group of singers, from his family members, to sing traditional South African songs. His group would perform all over South Africa and they would become the greatest music group his country would ever know. How could such a dream come to a young farm boy in a country rife with hardship, violence and trouble? Well, Joseph Shabalala was this young farm boy and his dream would become Ladysmith Black Mambazo.