Music Is My Life: Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo (2022)
The story of Joseph Shabalala, who rose to international fame with his band Ladysmith Black Mambazo after contributing to Paul Simon’s massively successful Graceland album. Bathed in Ladysmith’s powerful music, the documentary covers the full breadth of the singer’s life, from his early years in rural South Africa to the height of Shabalala’s global success to his passing in 2020, at the age of 79.
Directors: Mpumi Mbele, Carolyn Carew.
![]() |
Dolly Parton as Self |
![]() |
Paul Simon as Self |
![]() |
Joseph Shabalala as Self (archival footage) |
![]() |
Whoopi Goldberg as Self |
| Production | Thokozile Veronica Shabalala | Producer |
| Writing | Mpumi Mbele | Writer |
| Production | Jackie Motsepe | Executive Producer |
| Production | Nelly Molokoane | Executive Producer |
| Production | Iain Thomson | Executive Producer |
| Editing | Andrew Wessels | Editor |
| Camera | Michael Smith | Director of Photography |
| Production | Joel Marcus | Co-Producer |
| Production | Nirana Singh | Executive Producer |
| Editing | Khulekani Zondi | Editor |
| Production | Judy Nwokedi | Producer |
| Production | Philisiwe Buthelezi | Executive Producer |
| Production | Tsholo Mashile | Line Producer |
| Editing | Nhlanhla Mthethwa | Archival Footage Research |
| Production | Jack Oliver | Executive Producer |
| Production | Kate Kotcheff | Co-Producer |
| Production | Makhosazana Khanyile | Executive Producer |
| Production | Paul Cadieux | Executive Producer |
| Directing | Mpumi Mbele | Director |
| Production | Carolyn Carew | Producer |
| Directing | Carolyn Carew | Director |