In the organizer's words:

Bongeziwe Mabandla is a multi-award winning artist and one of the most mesmerizing voices redefining African music today. With four critically acclaimed albums - Umlilo, Mangaliso, iimini and amaXesha - he has won awards including two South African Music Awards for Best Alternative Album, a Feather Award for Musician of the Year and a Metro FM Award for Best African Pop.

His latest album, amaXesha, was named "Global Album of the Month" by The Guardian and praised as "a deeply moving work that transcends languages and borders". In 2023, he introduced his soulful sound to a global audience in his COLORS session, cementing his place as an artist with the unique ability to connect people through music.

In 2024, Mabandla embarked on a sold-out world tour with amaXesha, with unforgettable performances in London, Paris, New York, Berlin, Mexico City and other cities. Known for his intimate and emotionally charged live shows, he brings raw honesty and magnetic energy to every stage and captivates audiences.

Over the years, he has performed at prestigious festivals and stages around the world, including the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, WOMEX (Finland), Reeperbahn Festival (Germany), Lake of Stars (Malawi), Afrovibes Festival (Netherlands), Oslo World Festival (Norway) and six editions of the Sakifo Music Festival in Réunion.

In early 2025, he released "amaXesha Remixes", a reinterpretation of fan favorites from his fourth album. The project brought together a dynamic mix of local and international producers who breathed new energy into the originals - blending his sound with Afrotech, Afrohouse and other electronic elements, expanding his sonic universe without losing its emotional depth. His influence extends beyond music to include fashion collaborations with Thebe Magugu, Nao Serati and up-and-coming designer Gugu by Gugu.

Bongeziwe Mabandla continues to forge his own path, effortlessly blending innovation with soul to create work that resonates far beyond borders and languages.