Bongeziwe Mabandla

Bongeziwe
Mabandla is a vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter from South Africa. While
studying drama and visual arts in school, he was encouraged by a teacher to
pursue music. Bongeziwe croons velvety Xhosa in a style he calls “urban
traditional African folk music,” citing Tracy Chapman, Lauryn Hill, South
African vocalist Simphiwe Dana, and Zimbabwean guitarist Oliver Mtukudzi as his
greatest influences. His music explores themes of inequality and contemporary
social issues facing South Africa. In 2008, he independently released his debut
EP, UMLILO and toured in South Africa, France, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. In 2011,
Bongeziwe was awarded second place at the Radio France International
Discoveries Awards. In addition to working as a composer for film and
television, Bongeziwe is currently recording his first full-length album.