Sibongile Mbambo
First there is the voice. Her voice is intense, enchanting and deeply South African. Sibongile Mbambo sings in Xhosa, her "native music".
This language crackles to the rhythm of the percussive tongue snapping, leading her voice. While her inspiration takes its source into the Xhosa traditions of the South African hills and plains, it is also deeply immersed into the urban reality of the great African cities, made of confrontations and encounters. Sibongile ‘s rich and generous inspiration that celebrates the culture of interaction and exchanges was also nourished by her arrival in the cosmopolitan city of Marseille. Both powerful and aerial, her music gives echo to her journey, a state of perpetual transition.
This language crackles to the rhythm of the percussive tongue snapping, leading her voice. While her inspiration takes its source into the Xhosa traditions of the South African hills and plains, it is also deeply immersed into the urban reality of the great African cities, made of confrontations and encounters. Sibongile ‘s rich and generous inspiration that celebrates the culture of interaction and exchanges was also nourished by her arrival in the cosmopolitan city of Marseille. Both powerful and aerial, her music gives echo to her journey, a state of perpetual transition.
Her compositions are created from the rhythm of the udu or her « Bongy box », a sort of crate that has been following her from Cape Town. Adding the sounds of the guitar, in echo with the Zulu maskanda supported by the trans African drums and the Fula breath, or the jazz of the wind instruments.
This album tells stories of spirituality and humanity. Accompanied by talented musicians and supported by a bewitching voice, the « Bongi » project transports us to a musical universe of jazz and world music.
This album tells stories of spirituality and humanity. Accompanied by talented musicians and supported by a bewitching voice, the « Bongi » project transports us to a musical universe of jazz and world music.
www.sibongilembambo.com - Photo ©Patrick Gherdoussi
Media
"Today, maturity is here. Her own compositions are [...] full of traditions that she brings together with the drums with a real grace." - Télérama (France)
"When her tongue snaps and her warm tone of voice mixes with a guitar, a flute and subtle drums, it is the entire Southern Africa that beats, vibrates, dances [...] Master of the scene, Sibongile Mbambo exudes an exceptional aura and captures the audience." - La Provence (France)
"Sibongile Mbambo’s voice is the softest percussion instrument. The sensual silences that end her sentences are only here to reinforce her natural rhythm." - Mondomix (France)