Bantu the Tribe
Bantu the Tribe is a collective that crafts music that is a voice for abantu (the people). The ensemble that is made up of Nkosi Nda Music & Bhekizo, crafts sounds they wish will heal wounds, allay sorrows & soothe souls. They weave authentic music originating of deep African roots. Their eclectic musical offering includes traditional pieces and adaptations of African folk, and songs heavily influenced by afro soul, jazz, world music with mesmerizing Tribal Fusion.
The Bantu-the-tribe sound is a range of eclectic sounds, exotic instruments and diverse genres fused into one unique flavor. They strike a resonance between local and global music by weaving together Southern African & West African rhythms and sounds with vocals in Ndebele, SiSwati, Zulu, English & Swahili. Instruments include guitar, piano, pan whistle, shakers, woodblocks, rainmaker, djembe, congas, woodblocks, leg rattles, marimba and other percussive sounds.
The unique blend of music is a feast for the senses, simultaneously shedding new light on traditional culture, storytelling and finding common roots.
Meet the bantu
Bhekizo: vocals, guitar, percussions, flute
A proud product of the African soil, Bhekizo music celebrates Eswatini’s rich culture and tells his authentic story of African spirituality and African politics. His music pays homage to his ancestral lineage of traditional healers, his sounds amplify the power of African pharmacology through rhythms that reverberate with influence from Nguni traditional healers, who use music therapy to heal. Bhekizo confidently spreads Nguni Musical Therapy through his music.
Bhekizo derives his musical inspiration from African musical greats such as Mabi Thobejane, Thobile Makhoyane and Busi Mhlongo, amongst many others. He has been one of four members of Tindzaba Temdzabu, a group celebrating traditional Eswatini sounds through jazz music using traditional and western music instruments such as acoustic guitars, luvengo (a traditional flute), congas, Swazi drums and electric keyboards.
Bhekizo performed at the 2010 World Cup fan stage in South Africa, and has performed in Maputo alongside Eswatini Afro-fusion artist, Thobile Makhoyane. He has featured as a supporting act for one of Eswatini’s best known musical exports, Afro-soul sensation, Bholoja, during his performance at the King’s Birthday in Eswatini in 2011. Bhekizo also dazzled audiences at the launch of the globally-infused festival, MTN Bushfire, in 2013 and 2014. One of his memorable performances was with local theatre group, Buhle Buyeza, at the 13th edition of the MTN Bushfire festival. Other festivals Bhekizo has played in include
Standard Bank Luju Festival, Fez Home Coming, Women why Wine, Conversation
with Dzeli.
Nkosi Nda: vocals, guitar, percussions, piano, pan whistle
Nkosi Nda’s music is a mixture of jazz, ethnic, Afrocentric, afro soul, house and gospel. He terms it “Afrosoul according to a Ndebele Prince” as most of it has got his deep tribal Ndebele roots. Nkosi Nda is a projecting pianist, guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, music arranger and filmmaker; an all-round creative. Nkosi Nda played his first musical instrument at age 11, and has gone on to learn many other instruments including piano, guitar, pan…