Based: Cape Town

Ancient Voice Ensemble is a Cape Town-based collective dedicated to preserving, celebrating and sharing African indigenous music through performance, education and creative collaboration. Formed in 2014 after a successful tour in the Netherlands with BOS Theaterproductie, the ensemble was created by musicians committed to keeping traditional African music and its educational value alive for contemporary audiences.

The group brings together performers from diverse musical and cultural backgrounds, united by a shared passion for indigenous African sound. Their music centres on traditional instruments and vocal traditions, with the HDS page highlighting instruments such as the uhadi, mbira, kayombe and umrhubhe, alongside percussion and voice.

Ancient Voice Ensemble’s performances balance heritage and accessibility, presenting original work and reimagined African folk material in a way that feels both rooted and engaging. The ensemble is also strongly linked to cultural education, with its members working not only as performers but also as teachers and cultural ambassadors who help introduce wider audiences to the stories, techniques and traditions behind the music.

The act is particularly well suited to festivals, cultural events, concert programmes and curated functions looking for something authentic, distinctive and deeply connected to African musical heritage.