Bambata by Bambata

Bambata was a music project in South Africa that produced three popular albums, '1906' in 2000, 'Ukhandampondo' (poll tax) in 2002, and 'Abashokobezi 1906–2006' in 2006.

The project featured Sipho Sithole, Philangezwi Bongani Nkwanyana, Mathufela Zuma, and Bheki Khoza. They chose the name Bambata for their project in order to honour Bambatha kaMancinza (ca. 1860–1906), a Zulu chief of the amaZondi tribe in the Colony of Natal (modern Kwazulu-Natal), who had a large role in a rebellion against the English in 1906 when the poll tax was raised from a tax per hut to per head (£1 tax on all native men older than 18).

The basic idea behind the Bambata project fused Zulu traditional rhythms, amahubo (folk music), and maskandi guitar with African and mainstream jazz along with elements of hip hop, rap, reggae, and kwaito. For the first two albums, Bambata was not a band, but for each album and for many of the individual songs, artists were chosen that could interpret the songs with their individual talents. The third album was more of a group effort, with Philangezwi Bongani Nkwanyana, Mathufela Zuma, and Faca forming the core of the group.[2]

The beginnings of Bambata go back to 1994 when Sithole and Bongani Nkwanyana met at the Windybrow Arts Festival. Sithole recognized in Bongani Nkwanyana an untapped talent, but the latter did not agree to the project until 1998 when Sithole brought along his cousin, the Maskandi singer, and guitarist Mathufela Zuma.

The themes in Bambata songs range from suffering under colonialism and imperialism to social issues such as crime and incarceration.

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