Zulu Love

Direct from South Africa, the incredible voices of ZULU LOVE return to New Zealand in Autumn 2018.

“As soon as people saw them, they were bowled over by their incredible talent, infectious enthusiasm and pure joy” – Nelson Mail

Come for a pre-show meal! We believe great music should be paired with hearty soul food so in addition to our normal Blue Smoke concert menu we’ve decided to serve a SEASONAL ROAST MEAL from our beautiful AGA kitchen. 5pm onward

Zulu Love is a group of amazing musicians based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The singers are truly world class and have sung at the opening ceremony of the London Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. They have also starred in global touring productions of major South African musicals such as Stimela the Musical and Spirit and Bones.

Their unique ‘Isicathamiya’ singing style – a type of African acapella music – shot to world-wide fame largely thanks to Paul Simon, who collaborated with the Durban based group Ladysmith Black Mambazo on his 1986 Graceland album. LBM then went on to carve out a highly-successful international career winning numerous Grammy Awards.

Isicathamiya is a Zulu word that translates as ‘in a stalking way’ or ‘cat like’. The singing technique that takes its name was born in the South African mines at the turn of the 20th Century when Zulu workers living in hostels or all-male dorms would secretly sing to each other in low voices. Post-apartheid, it is now sung loudly and proudly and focuses on achieving perfect rhythm and harmony between the singers.

Don’t miss the return of this incredible music and musicianship from South Africa. Come and celebrate the soaring voices of Zulu Love at the Blue Smoke.