Albert Mazibuko
Musical artist
Mdletshe Albert Mazibuko is a member of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a South African choral group founded in 1960 - and still led - by his cousin Joseph.Albert was born in Ladysmith, South Africa, and was the eldest of six sons; the others being Milton, Funokwakhe, Mehlo, Abednego, and Joseph Mazibuko. He grew up on a farm. Although his father believed in the importance of education it was necessary for Albert to leave school early and he worked full-time on the farm between the ages of eight and fifteen. He worked as a manual labourer in a number of jobs including working in an asbestos-making factory prior to joining Mambazo. Albert joined Mambazo in 1969 as a tenor voice, with his brother Milton as an alto voice. Aside from Joseph Shabalala, Albert is the only original member left in the group and has seen many changes; whereas the early line-ups were formed of a few Shabalalas and two Mazibukos, the group largely included members unrelated to Joseph.After the killing of his brother Milton in 1980 (by which time his brothers Funokwakhe and Joseph Mazibuko had retired, whilst his youngest brother Abednego had joined), Albert remained in the line-up and has been a full-time member of the group since 1973.