Bongani Nikelo uMlilo

ABOUT

Bongani Nikelo-Tsoaedi, a self taught Bass Guiterist, Composer, Arranger and Vocalist. His music journey started  at a tender age of 13, drawing his inspiration from his big brother, the 2013 Best Jazz Album South African Music Award winner, Herbie Tsoaedi. Bongani genetic skills were nurtured through a Community Art Centre before proceeding  to MAP Music College in the early  90’s where he started performing with the College Ensemble which marked the beginning of his career as an artist. 

Being groomed by giants in Jazz music, the likes of Ezra Ngcukana, Duke Ngcukana Spencer Mbadu, Makhoy Mrhubata and more, Bonganis love for jazz became deep rooted, however, the influence of the economic conditions within the black communities at the time required him to be versatile in music inorder to be able to put bread on the table. His career blossomed in the late 1990's when he was a member of afro-pop groups, amongst others being The Jam band, Mpho and Vimba which afforded him the opportunity to international tours from 2004 to countries like Germany, Holland where he performed at the North Sea Jazz festival, China and Japan, where he worked with the great Saxophonist, Sadao Watanabe. His highlights include an experience in the Afro expo project that served to showcase the music of the South African diaspora as advanced by such musicians in Germany where he shared the stage with big legends like Hugh Masekela and the Mahotela Queens.

Locally, Bongani has had countless perfomances including the Cape Town Jazz Festival, Grahamstown Arts festival and many more. In 2010 he joined The Barnyard Theatre in Johannesburg where he plperfomed in  different music genres from rock and roll to Afro Pop, touring South Africa and its neighboring countries like Zimbabwe. With his experience and versatility in the music industry, Bongani remains open to the opportunity of learning new skills and is looking forward to career advancement opportunities.   Catch him live  for a mesmerizing performance on stages across South African with his Quartet as he embarks on a project that is focused on his personal development as a Jazz lcon.