Today, gospel music remains one of the populist mainstays of everyday life in South Africa's urban townships and rural communities, and it also constitutes one of the largest genre segments of the local record industry. Its widespread popularity within South Africa has spilled over to the international stage, with groups and artists such as Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Rebecca Malope. The Rough Guide To South African Gospel brings together twenty-two brilliant performances recorded over the last forty years, to cover the entire range of local styles, from apostolic choirs to pop-influenced gospel divas, and features the most famous artists in the field.