Bongeziwe Mabandla is an award-winning South African singer-songwriter, musician and creative artist whose deeply emotive music has established him as one of the country’s most internationally respected contemporary African voices.
Originally from the rural town of Tsolo in the Eastern Cape, Bongeziwe grew up surrounded by music, singing in church and developing an early connection to traditional Xhosa music and storytelling. He later moved to Johannesburg, where he studied at AFDA and began developing the distinctive artistic identity that would launch his professional career.
Singing predominantly in isiXhosa, Bongeziwe creates music that transcends language. His distinctive sound combines African soul, Afro-folk, acoustic music, electronic textures and contemporary alternative influences, while remaining deeply connected to his Eastern Cape heritage.
Musical Career
Bongeziwe introduced himself with his debut album Umlilo in 2012, establishing his reputation as a compelling new voice in South African music.
His second album, Mangaliso, released in 2017, marked a significant evolution in his sound and won the South African Music Award (SAMA) for Best Alternative Music Album in 2018.
His critically acclaimed third album, iimini, followed in 2020 and earned Bongeziwe his second SAMA for Best Alternative Music Album in 2021.
In 2023, he released his fourth studio album, amaXesha, produced in collaboration with longtime creative partner Tiago Correia-Paulo.
The album represented another major evolution in his music, bringing together Xhosa soul, Afro-folk, electronic music and contemporary soul.
amaXesha received significant international recognition and was named Global Album of the Month by The Guardian. It subsequently won Best African Pop Album at the 2024 Metro FM Music Awards.
International Career
Bongeziwe has developed an exceptional international touring career, performing to audiences throughout Africa, Europe, the United Kingdom, North America and Latin America.
His festival appearances include:
- Cape Town International Jazz Festival
- WOMEX
- Reeperbahn Festival – Germany
- Oslo World Festival – Norway
- Lake of Stars – Malawi
- Afrovibes Festival – Netherlands
- Sakifo Music Festival – Réunion
- Numerous headline concerts throughout Europe
His 2024 amaXesha tour extended across South Africa, Europe, the United States and Latin America, with multiple sold-out performances.
In 2026, Bongeziwe embarked on another extensive international tour, performing across cities including Munich, Copenhagen, London, Manchester, Brussels, Berlin, Paris, Vienna, Rotterdam and Zurich, followed by performances across Southern Africa.
Awards & Career Highlights
- Two-time South African Music Award winner
- SAMA – Best Alternative Music Album for Mangaliso
- SAMA – Best Alternative Music Album for iimini
- 2024 Metro FM Music Award – Best African Pop for amaXesha
- amaXesha named Global Album of the Month by The Guardian
- Award-winning “Bawo Wam” music video
- Extensive international touring across Africa, Europe, UK, USA and Latin America
- Performed at Cape Town International Jazz Festival, WOMEX, Reeperbahn, Oslo World Festival and Sakifo
- Featured on internationally recognised music platform COLORS
- Actor in Baloji’s Augure (Omen), which received the New Voice Prize in Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival
- Four critically acclaimed studio albums
- International career spanning music, film, visual art and fashion
Live Performance
It is in the live environment that Bongeziwe’s artistry becomes particularly powerful.
His performances are known for their intimacy, emotional intensity and understated theatricality, combining his distinctive vocals with acoustic instrumentation, electronic textures and sophisticated production.
Rather than delivering a conventional commercial pop performance, Bongeziwe creates an immersive musical experience in which voice, movement, storytelling and sound work together.
His ability to communicate emotion beyond language has helped him build audiences internationally, even while continuing to sing predominantly in isiXhosa.
For corporate and private events, Bongeziwe Mabandla is particularly suited to premium events, international conferences, cultural programmes, gala dinners, luxury brand events and sophisticated African-themed productions where the brief calls for an artist with strong artistic credibility and a contemporary African identity.
From Tsolo in the Eastern Cape to sold-out international stages, Bongeziwe Mabandla has created a musical identity that is unmistakably South African while resonating with audiences around the world.
