Bambata is a music project in South Africa which has produced three popular albums, 1906 in 2000, ukhandampondo (poll tax) in 2002, and Abashokobezi 1906–2006 in 2006.
The main forces in this project are Sipho Sithole, director and founder of the Native Rhythms Productions, Philangezwi Bongani Nkwanyana, Mathufela Zuma and Bheki Khoza.
[1] The basic idea behind the Bambata project is to fuse Zulu traditional rhythms, amahubo (folk music) and maskanda guitar with African and mainstream jazz along with elements of hip hop, rap, reggae and kwaito.
[2] The beginnings of the Bambata go back to 1994, when Sithole and Bongani Nkwanyana met at the Windybrow Arts Festival.
The themes in Bambata songs range from suffering under colonialism and imperialism to social issues such as crime and incarceration.