On September 6, renowned penny whistler Elias Shamber Lerole celebrated his 85th birthday, and his son, musician Tebogo “Edward Billion” Lerole, took to Instagram to wish his father well.
Tebogo acknowledged his father’s artistic accomplishments in a number of Instagram posts. While he toasted to his illustrious father, he also made a surprising revelation regarding the Grammy award-winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
He published a photo of members of the group Black Mambazo, which he said was founded in 1954, in a post. He went on to imply that Ladysmith Black Mambazo did not own the name “Black Mambazo.”
“First established in 1954” (Elias Shamber Lerole, Big Voice Jack Lerole, Zephaniah Nkabinde, David Ramosa, Piet Khumalo and Bra Chicks). “The moniker Black Mambazo does not belong to you or the late Joseph Tshabalala,” he stated on Twitter.
In a separate post, he questioned how Ladysmith Black Mambazo owned the moniker Black Mambazo, given that it “belonged to my father’s band, Black Mambazo, and not Ladysmith Black Mambazo.”
“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s,” he quoted in one of his posts.
One of Tebogo’s followers, @chle zik, responded to the comment by asking what consequence the musician desired in response to the allegations.
He made it clear in his response that he was not doing this for likes, attention, or money.
“It has been a continuing battle for many years, and one day the truth will emerge; I can only hope my father is still living to see it.”
“It was never our intention to empty @ladysmithblackmambazo60’s bank account; let it be known that we are not chasing their money or wages.” It is about the truth, period,” he stated.
A screenshot of @edwardbillion’s Instagram comments.
Tebogo said in a separate post that the Black Mambazo have struggled for years to have their name reinstated, and that the late Joseph Tshabalala was aware of the claims.
“All my father wants to know before he dies away is the truth, as the name belonged to him/his band and why it was taken without his consent,” he wrote.
The musician also said that he was simply a son battling for his father.
“Your dislike of me has nothing to do with the statement I made; I am only a son fighting for his own father, as I’m sure all of you would do for yours,” he wrote.
Tebogo added that the Grammy-winning trio was tagged in the post and that they would respond if the charge was false.
“If my father is lying, @ladysmithblackmambazo60 is tagged, and some of the old members are still living; I am confident they will comment if this is a bogus charge,” he added.
A screenshot of @edwardbillion’s Instagram comments.
Ladysmith Black Mambazo has not responded publicly to Tebogo’s allegation. IOL Entertainment has reached out to them but has not yet received a response.