Based: Johannesburg
The Brother Moves On (also known as TBMO) is a genre-defying South African performance art collective and music ensemble based in Johannesburg, Gauteng. Founded between 2008 and 2010 by brothers Nkululeko and Siyabonga Mthembu, the group has grown from a grassroots art collective into one of South Africa’s most innovative and internationally recognised creative forces.
Origins & Artistic Vision
Originally emerging from the East Rand’s Kempton Park and Tembisa communities, TBMO began as a multidisciplinary project blending music, visual art, theatre and storytelling. Over time it evolved into a band led by Siyabonga Mthembu (lead vocals), with a core ensemble including Zelizwe Mthembu (guitar), Ayanda Zalekile (bass), and Simphiwe Tshabalala (drums) — alongside rotating collaborators.
Rather than fitting a single genre, their sound has been described as “tradition-trouncing trans-Atlantic Afrocentric futuristically ancient fusion,” incorporating elements of Afro-jazz, rock psychedelia, maskandi, dub, spoken word and experimental soundscapes. This fusion is reflected in both recorded work and their compelling live shows, which often include performance art spanning movement, costume, masks and narrative themes.
Career & Impact
The Brother Moves On has released acclaimed projects such as The Golden Wake, ETA and $/He Who Feeds You…Owns You, with the latter addressing socio-political questions and calling on audiences to reflect on history and the present. Their music resonates with questions of identity, memory, protest and community, making them both a musical and cultural voice in contemporary South African art.
They have toured extensively, performing at major events and festivals — including the Montreux Jazz Festival, WOMAD, Afropunk and various international stages — and have collaborated with numerous artists such as Shabaka Hutchings, bridging local African creativity with global music dialogues.
Performance Style
Live, The Brother Moves On is less a conventional concert and more a communal artistic experience — a blend of ritual, storytelling and sonic exploration that challenges listeners and invites reflection. Their shows feel immersive, with music, movement and visual atmosphere working in concert to engage the audience.
Today, TBMO continues to push boundaries, contributing to South Africa’s cultural landscape as one of its most inventive and respected performance ensembles — a collective that truly keeps moving on creatively and socially.
Brothers Move on
Brothers Move on
The Brother Moves On Rehearsal (Short) from hankwillisthomas on Vimeo.
