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BORN in Tsolo in the rural Eastern Cape, singer-songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla matriculated from the Lady Grey Arts Academy, before pursuing drama studies at AFDA in Johannesburg.
While studying, he worked at his songwriting and compositions, and soon started gigging – initially just with guitar and voice – and often at cultural events, alongside poets and spoken-word artists, and musicians.
Thus he built a core following in Joburg, East London, Pretoria and Durban.
His drama studies progressed well, and Bongeziwe landed several television and film acting roles, including a run with the soap opera "Generations".
Soon, by virtue of his songwriting and performance, he gained television exposure as a performing artist in his own right.
Instrumentation:
vocals, guitar (acoustic / semi-acoustic)
Genre:
African, folk, fusion
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Contact with afro dubmasters 340ml was pivotal, and served as a foundation to consolidate his musical trajectory: drummer Paulo Chibanga of 340ml and Tumi & The Volume produced his debut EP, “Umlilo” in 2008.
The folky-African fusion and isiXhosa/English lyricism of the “Umlilo” EP caught the ear of Sony Music South Africa, and the resultant signing saw the release of a full length CD of the same name. The “Umlilo” album won strong acclaim, earning Bongeziwe two Metro FM awards, and significantly, a runner-up prize in the Radio France International Discovery Awards in 2011.
The soft spoken Bongeziwe has already collaborated with an impressive array of South African musicians, as well as remix producers and mcees. In 2013, he visited France as part of the French-South Africa Season, and was further acknowledged back at home, where the Mail & Guardian profiled him as one of its “200 Young South Africans”.
Contact Details:
Bongeziwe Mabandla Management & Bookings: Black Major
(the Black Major site also includes clips and media resources)
Artist site:
www.bongeziwemabandla.co.za
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Recordings : Mabandla, Bongeziwe
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2013
Umlilo
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click here for more about these and other recordings by : Mabandla, Bongeziwe
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