MUSIC IS MY LIFE is an epic film created over several years covering the life of singer and founder of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Dr Josef Shabalala. It encompasses his life, from his early years in rural South Africa as a farmhand at the age 6 with almost no schooling to the height of his global success and his passing in 2020 at the age of 79. The film speaks to us about his love for singing, and incorporating hymns and visions through dreams and religion, that influenced his singing style, known as Isicathamiya music, which developed his unique music. This unique style and interpretation were further explored and adapted, when he met Paul Simon in South Africa. Paul had defied the UN cultural ban on artists performing in South Africa in the mid-eighties and he collaborated with Joseph Shambala and the band, as well as several other South African musicians to produce the album Graceland. The South African Film Festival played a documentary film about Paul Simon’s trip, opening the second S. A. Fim Fest in Vancouver. It was this collaboration that led the way to the huge success that followed Ladysmith Black Mambazo worldwide. While the film shows some beautiful footage of South Africa, it also tells of the difficulties and struggles. that befell The Shabalala family, and how this was overcome with Joseph’s visions and beliefs in his music. A wonderful opening film for this year’s festival which hopefully will be seen by many followers of SAFFCANADA and E.W.B