When Joseph Shabalala formed Ladysmith Black Mambazo 45 years ago he probably did not imagine the singing group would still be going strong in the 21st century.

The group became hugely popular after the release of Nelson Mandela and the formation of a new South Africa in the early 1990s; but their style had already made a mark with their melodic backing vocals on Paul Simon's 1986 album Graceland, particularly on the track called Homeless, which was recorded in Britain in October 1985.

Since then, of course, they have toured the UK many times. They are in the middle of their latest 30-date tour in support of their new CD, Long Walk to Freedom. They come to Bradford nextWednesday.

Their back catalogue of achievements is impressive: nearly 40 CD releases, winners of two Grammy Awards and twice performers at Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies. They played for the late Pope John Paul II in Rome and they have performed for Nelson Mandela in Capetown as part of the Cancel the Debt campaign.

On that day they were with U2's Bono.

Coincidentally, on the day that the group's Albert Mazibuko spoke to the T&A, Bono's specially edition of The Independent was published with the message on the front page that every day 6,500 Africans die of preventable, treatable disease.

"That's a message people need to hear. AIDS and poverty are a great challenge in Africa as a whole. The other day I was talking with someone about the treatment for HIV/AIDS.

"I said it works for people who are rich because the drugs are very strong. But it's different for poor people who cannot have enough food every day; it is very difficult for them, " he said.

The problems can appear insurmountable; but then 20 years ago when Ladysmith Black Mambazo started touring, the system of apartheid in South Africa appeared to be impossible to overcome. Within a couple of years, however, everything changed.

"It (poverty/disease) will be overcome but it's going to take a lot of effort. People have to know about prevention. Young people have to be educated and believe that this is a disease that can be avoided if they live the right way. We are always talking about this when we do workshops in Africa.

"When people talk about bad things it's as though there is no sunshine.

But there is light; we can come together and fight what is bad and fight for what is good.

"A lot of things have changed for the better. I grew up in the apartheid era.

Now I see people who have opportunities. South Africa is really free. There are schools, people have equal opportunities now. The feeling when you are in the country is different, " he added.

The Long Walk to Freedom tour marks the group's 20th anniversary of world touring.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo are at St George's Hall on Wednesday, May 24, star ting at 7.30pm. The box office number is (01274) 432000. Their new album, Long Walk to Freedom, featuring contributions from Emmylou Harris, Nathalie Merchant, Sarah McLachlan and Melissa Etheridge, is available on Heads Up now.