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Music Is My Life tells the story of South African musician Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who became global sensations after helping to shape Paul Simon’s hit album, Graceland.
The documentary covers the singer’s life in rural South Africa - during apartheid - to the highpoints of his 5-time Grammy®-winning success, to his passing, in 2020, at the age of 79.
The film features people who worked with Shabalala, or who knew and admired him, including Dolly Parton, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and, of course, Paul Simon. Nelson Mandela was a huge fan and friend.
Laurels:
- Official South African Submission: Best International Feature Academy Award
- 31st Anniversary Pan African Film Festival: Official Selection
- 2022 Selection Encounters Film Festival
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS FILM IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING WITHIN CANADA
- Year2022
- Runtime90 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Zulu
- CountrySouth Africa
- DirectorMpumi Mbele, Carolyn Carew
- ScreenwriterMpumi Mbele
- ProducerCarolyn Carew, Judy Nwokedi, Thokozile Veronica Shabalala
- Executive ProducerJack Oliver, Nirana Singh, Philisiwe Buthelezi, Paul Cadieux, Iain Thomson, Jackie Motsepe, Makhosazana Khanyile, Nelly Molokoane, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Co-ProducerKate Kotcheff, Joel Marcus
- CastDolly Parton, Paul Simon, Joseph Shabalala
- CinematographerMichael Smith
- EditorKhulekani Zondi, Andrew Wessels
- ComposerLadysmith Black Mambazo
Music Is My Life tells the story of South African musician Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, who became global sensations after helping to shape Paul Simon’s hit album, Graceland.
The documentary covers the singer’s life in rural South Africa - during apartheid - to the highpoints of his 5-time Grammy®-winning success, to his passing, in 2020, at the age of 79.
The film features people who worked with Shabalala, or who knew and admired him, including Dolly Parton, Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey and, of course, Paul Simon. Nelson Mandela was a huge fan and friend.
Laurels:
- Official South African Submission: Best International Feature Academy Award
- 31st Anniversary Pan African Film Festival: Official Selection
- 2022 Selection Encounters Film Festival
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS FILM IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING WITHIN CANADA
- Year2022
- Runtime90 minutes
- LanguageEnglish, Zulu
- CountrySouth Africa
- DirectorMpumi Mbele, Carolyn Carew
- ScreenwriterMpumi Mbele
- ProducerCarolyn Carew, Judy Nwokedi, Thokozile Veronica Shabalala
- Executive ProducerJack Oliver, Nirana Singh, Philisiwe Buthelezi, Paul Cadieux, Iain Thomson, Jackie Motsepe, Makhosazana Khanyile, Nelly Molokoane, Ladysmith Black Mambazo
- Co-ProducerKate Kotcheff, Joel Marcus
- CastDolly Parton, Paul Simon, Joseph Shabalala
- CinematographerMichael Smith
- EditorKhulekani Zondi, Andrew Wessels
- ComposerLadysmith Black Mambazo