South African superstars Ladysmith Black Mambazo are hoping for favourable weather when they visit Bradford next week.

The band still have vivid - if chilly - memories of playing in front of the Queen as part of the prestigious Millennium Dome opening celebrations.

"Playing at the Dome was wonderful because we brought our families with us. About 40 people came from South Africa altogether," said Albert Mazibuko, who has been in Ladysmith Black Mambazo for more than three decades.

"It was the first time for us to see in the New Year in this kind of weather. We're normally at home then and it's usually hot at that time of year.

"We had to get our raincoats. It was freezing! But it didn't snow fortunately."

Ladysmith Black Mambazo were founded by their charismatic frontman Joseph Shabalala in 1964. And they know they owe much of their current fame to a high-profile television advertising campaign by Heinz baked beans which used their song Inkanyez Nezaszi.

The ten-piece sold more than a million copies of their album The Star and the Wiseman on the back of it.

Albert also paid tribute to the inspirational example set by the group's founder Joseph Shabalala.

"He had a vision that there should be a group like this that would be a great encouragement for black South Africans. He wanted South African music to be portrayed all around the world," he said.

South African society appears to have been transformed at levels since the end of Apartheid. But has the new era meant a huge difference for Ladysmith Black Mambazo as well?

"Yes, it changed a lot for the group since then. The music has not changed but some of the songs are different. We are going with times more but most of the time we sing about the same things we did before," said Albert.

The band promise a highly colourful show for Bradford fans. And you don't have to speak Zulu to understand all the songs. Some of their lyrics are sung in English and French.

Ladysmith Black Mambazo arrive for their latest UK tour on the back of a hectic 12 months.

February 1999 saw them giving an acapella performance at the Brit Awards and performing at the prestigious Linda McCartney memorial concert at the Royal Albert Hall.

They also recorded a track for the Rugby World Cup and appeared at the tournament's opening ceremony in Cardiff in October before being invited to perform at the Commonwealth Heads of Government conference in Durban and the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.