EP Private Listening Session

New Faces To Old Problems: EP listening session

Bonga Kwana is a musical delicacy and fine tuned singer, songwriter and multifaceted creative firecracker from Cape Town. She's a breathtaking songstress, a powerhouse and multilayered vocalist and artist. Bonga is relatively new to the music scene, but has made some very impressive moves; the Starygyal is a Platoon artist, she has worked and performed alongside some of the country's finest, including but not limited to, Msaki, Ami Faku, Zolani Mahola, Amanda Black, Khuli Chana, Buhlebendalo Mda and Samthing Soweto. 

Bonga came on the scene in 2019 with her first release - a profound song titled, "Ungazilibali“ (Don’t forget yourself) with South African musical giants Zolani Mahola, Msaki, Ami Faku and Eryn Allen Kane from the States. "Ungazilibali" is an ode to young womxn to remain grounded and rooted in themselves, at all times, noba lingatshona ilanga.

In the same year, Bonga's queer love song, Nzwakazi was featured as one of the soundtracks for First For Women's documentary, “Womanhood”. The film was nominated for 2 categories in the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) for the year 2020. Also in 2019, Stargyal was selected as one of 8 South African musicians to represent the country at the Nando's Music Exchange in London, UK - where her song "Living In Colour" was specially selected to hit the airwaves on BBC Radio 1. 

The Stargyal's recent work includes a collaboration with various South African artists under the banner #MzantsiAllStars . The artists include Zoe Modiga, RJ Benjamin, Vusi Mahlasela and many more, on an offering titled #BecauseWeAre, dedicated to all the essential workers of our society and the incredible contribution they have made during the Covid 19 pandemic. 

Bonga also partnered up with the well sought after international music platform, Sofar Sounds, delivering a stella performance, paying tribute to #UyineneMrwetyana, Reeva Steenkamp and other womxn who have lost their lives to #genderbasedviolence, while also celebrating #HeritageMonth in South Africa. 

Her upcoming body of work is her self-titled EP, #NewFacesToOldProblems, scheduled to drop next year, 2021. Bonga invites you to a soulful and enchanting evening of live music, from the captivating ancestral sounds of uhadi to heart wrenching and tearjerking melodies of the piano. This evening promises to be one that leads you well into your festive season and new year, with warm food for the soul and mind. You're in safe hands; we're gonna dance, we're gonna groove, we're gonna sit still be one with our emotions. We're gonna chat, we're gonna laugh and probably cry. 

But most importantly, we're gonna live, with Bonga Kwana. This is an experience you do not want to miss. Bless yourself and your friends, okwamalast! Tickets from only R100 , haibo khanenze!

Stargyal is joined by Cape Town's finest Sky Dladla and Liso The Musician.

15 December 2020 | 7pm - late

Venue: The Raptor Room, 79 Roeland Str.

Ps. Of the many things you can miss, this is not the one.