Arroyo Grande will soon provide a stage to a group of singers who were catapulted to world fame more than 20 years ago when Paul Simon put their signature sound on his hit album “Graceland.”

Sure to leave the audience enchanted by their intricate rhythms and harmonies, the South African a cappella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo will sing Jan. 30 at the Clark Center.

This group’s music is about much more than performing and recording.

“Our music, it’s a music that came as a gift to us,” said Albert Mazibuko, an original member of the group, in a Jan. 17 interview with the Santa Maria Times. “It came to lift our spirit when the time was very difficult in our country.”

Indeed, it was 20 years ago that Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album introduced the world to Ladysmith Black Mambazo, but the group was first assembled in South Africa in the early 1960s by Joseph Shabalala. Their name is symbolic: “Ladysmith” refers to Shabalala’s rural hometown, “Black” is a reference to oxen, considered the strongest of all farm animals, and “Mambazo” is Zulu for axe, symbolizing the group’s ability to “chop down” any singing rival who might challenge them.

“We didn’t even expect that we’ve been going so long,” said Mazibuko, sounding surprised at the idea that it’s been 20 years since “Graceland.”

It’s the uplifting nature of their music, said Mazibuko, that he believes continues to draw a global audience to it.

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According to Mazibuko, Ladysmith is performing almost every day around the world, including at home in South Africa, even when they’d planned to be on a break.

“We find ourselves singing,” said Mazibuko. “It’s our life.”

And since apartheid (the former South African government’s policy of racial segregation and discrimination against nonwhites) came to an end in South Africa 12 years ago, the group has also seen singing as a way to celebrate.

That’s what their latest album, “Long Walk to Freedom,” released in January 2006, is about, said Mazibuko.

“We are celebrating now,” said Mazibuko. “We have come so far.”

The album includes 12 new recordings of favorite songs and features a slew of guest artists, including Melissa Etheridge, Emmylou Harris, Taj Mahal, Joe McBride, Sarah McLachlan, Natalie Merchant and Zap Mama.

“In order to make our celebration complete,” said Mazibuko, explaining their desire to include so many guest artists. The group’s association with other musicians has factored prominently into their career since they were featured on “Graceland.”

They have recorded with artists including Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, The Wynans, Julia Fordham, George Clinton, The Corrs and Ben Harper.

Their music has been featured on soundtracks for several movies, including Eddy Murphy’s “Coming to America,” and Sean Connery’s “The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen.”

Their appearance with Paul Simon on “Sesame Street” continues to be one of the top three requested segments in the history of the show. And a film documentary that tells the story of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, called “On Tip Toe: Gentle Steps to Freedom,” was nominated for an Academy Award.

Indeed, America loves Ladysmith Black Mambazo. And according to Mazibuko, they like America, too.

“It’s our second home,” he said. “Because it’s the home of music.”

The group takes pleasure in performing for American audiences, he added.

“We’re so happy and proud that they accept our music, especially when singing in our language,” said Mazibuko. “They only understand the music.”

And that they do, he added. He said he’s asked Americans what they’ve gotten out of a song that was in another language, and found that they often capture exactly what was meant, even if they couldn’t understand the words.

In addition to American audiences and artists, American critics have been good to Ladysmith Black Mambazo. They have received nine Grammy nominations, including wins for Best Traditional Folk Album for their first U.S. release, “Shaka Zulu” in 1988, and for Best Traditional World Music Album for 2005’s “Raise Your Spirit Higher.”

“This is something that we never expected.” said Mazibuko. “We are so grateful.”

See Them In Concert:

Ladysmith Black Mambazo will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Clark Center, 487 Fair Oaks Ave. in Arroyo Grande. Tickets cost $35, $45 and $55. For tickets, call 489-9444.

Emily Welly can be reached at 739-2220 or ewelly@santamaria times.com.