9 and 1/2 years ago I started 7th grade in South Africa. My family had just moved back to South Africa after spending 11 years in Omaha, NE. I was born in South Africa, and we had visited twice to see family while we lived in Omaha, but I wasn’t prepared for the culture shock I would face. I left all my friends back in Omaha, and was now in what was at the time more of a foreign country to me. I started 7th grade at the beginning of the South African school year which starts in January at a elementary school called New Germany Primary School. It was the most frightening day of my life. To start it off I had to where shorts that were only half way down my thigh in front of all these girls at school. I also had to wear a Speedo to c0-ed swimming lessons a couple of days a week. And to top it off, my mom walked me to my first day of class, all the way to the classroom door, in front of all of those cute South African girls.
Yet, in the midst of the scariest moment of my life, a kid in my class befriended me. His name was Babayile Shabalala. He was awesome! He bought me snacks at school, introduced me to all of his friends, and just accepted this new white kid to the class. He always told me that he was the grandson of the lead singer of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, a Grammy Award winning men’s choral group from a couple of hours away from where we were attending school. I left South Africa and Babayile two years later, but always remembered him, and what he had told me about his family heritage.
The story continues 9 and 1/2 years after I first met Babayile. My grandma and I had seen that Ladysmith Black Mambazo was coming to Nampa, ID, and she asked if I wanted to go as a part of my graduation present. We were able to get close to front row seats. Last night was the night of the concert. It was amazing! I had always admired their beautiful voices dancing through different harmonies and rhythms, but to hear it in life was unforgettable. I was so excited I took out my phone and regular camera and took a bunch of pics and videos of them. At intermission a guy came up and told me how distracting that had been to the people behind me, haha! If only he could have known of the connection I had with the group.
At intermission I also bought some CD’s and a DVD of theirs. After the last song had ended I dashed out with grandma to get it all signed by the group. Three members of the group were signing everyone’s CD’s so I also got in line. When I got up there I double checked to make sure that the group was all related to each other. The guy I talked to said yes, and then I told him I knew Babayile, that guy from all those years ago in New Germany, South Africa. He was just as shocked as I was at the news. He told me to wait a couple of seconds and then I could go back stage to meet his dad and grandpa. My grandma and I followed some of the guys back into the change room and we found all of the guys gathered together. Sure enough, there was his dad and grandpa. I told them of the connection, and we shared in some happiness. I got Babayile’s address and I gave them mine. I went around and shook their hands and gave Joseph Shabalala a hug, while my grandma stood on the side as many of the guys changed their pants and shirts while she looked on, haha! They noticed this however, and tried to come up and talk to her and distract her. It was so great to see some South Africans again and to make a connection with the family of a good friend I had while living in South Africa. After a final picture together we said good-bye, and grandma and I left laughing and smiling about how great the night had been! Truly unforgettable! Go and check em out, they are awesome! They have been apart of soundtracks on movies, as well as sung with some of the world’s great singers!
