LADYSMITH Black Mambazo's new album is an invocation to Raise Your Spirits Higher: or Wenyukela in their Zulu tongue.

Behind that exhortation lies a determination to grow stronger still through faith and spirituality after the darkness of last year when Nellie Shabalala, wife of founder and leader Joseph Shabalala, was shot dead. This tragedy followed the death from Aids of his daughter.

Their resolution to keep spreading their uplifting message finds Ladysmith Black Mambazo back in Britain in May and June, promoting Wenyukela on a 25-date tour. On Thursday, they will be singing their township songs at York Barbican Centre, led as ever by Shabalala.

As the album sleeve notes record: "His response to the tragedies was to sing, because that is what he does. It is his music which has seen him through these times; the Isicathamiya tradition on which his Zulu culture is built".

Joseph's long-time cohort in Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Albert Mazabuko, talks of the group's spirit in adversity.

"Raise Your Spirit Higher is reviving music, sustaining people and encouraging them through song," he says. "We decided that because nowadays there are so many things happening around the world, we wanted to do something that would rise above that: something positive."

That philosophy has marked out their music from the very start, their music being rooted in the mines of South Africa. Black workers, taken by rail to work far away from their homes and families, would entertain themselves at the close of a six-day week by singing songs into the early hours every Sunday morning.

"When we were struggling at home, our music was still giving freedom fighters hope," says Albert. "They used to tell us our music was their strength, and even when they were training they would play our music."

Now, Ladysmith Black Mambazo must draw strength from their own music as they come to terms with the two deaths in Joseph's family.

"If something happens to you that is trying to press you down, if you talk about it and make other people aware of it, then you can improve things by being strong together," Albert says. "It's been a very testing time, and in a test you have to pass or fail and I think we have passed because we are very strong and Joseph's messages are very strong and direct on this album."

Wenyukela, Ladysmith Black Mambazo's first album of all-new material in seven years, will no doubt boost Ladysmith record sales in Britain that stand at 1.5 million in the past five years. During that time they have played concerts to more than one million people too, their momentum sustained long after their initial introduction to British listeners via Paul Simon's 1986 album, Graceland.

"If you see people love the music it builds up your confidence to share your music with the world," says Albert. "Britain is a great country with a great musical history, so we're very happy and grateful that we're so appreciated there."

Ladysmith Black Mambazo, plus Fourteen Shabalala and Shongshilo, York Live Music Festival, York Barbican Centre, May 22, 7.30pm. Tickets: £23, £20, £17.50 on 01904 656688.

Updated: 08:59 Friday, May 16, 2003