Bongeziwe Mabandla Embarks on an Intimate ‘Solo Tour’ Across South Africa

Award-winning singer-songwriter Bongeziwe Mabandla has officially announced his Solo Tour — a heartfelt journey that promises fans an intimate experience of his artistry, authenticity, and connection to his audience. Known for his poetic sound and deeply spiritual performances, Bongeziwe’s new tour marks a return to simplicity, reflection, and emotional honesty.

In this exclusive OK Mzansi Magazine interview, Bongeziwe opens up about his creative process, the inspiration behind the tour, and what fans can expect from this powerful new chapter in his career.

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Exclusive Interview with Bongeziwe Mabandla

1. Congratulations on announcing the Solo Tour! What inspired the decision to embark on this intimate journey across South Africa at this point in your career?

What inspired me to go on a solo tour is mainly because I have been doing the live band thing for a while, and I’m about to go into another album. I wanted to find a transition and a way of going back to how I write songs and what the songs mean. I wanted to be a bit closer to the audience — to not be so far away.

2. You’ve performed on global stages, from Europe to major festivals, yet this tour focuses on smaller, more personal venues. What draws you to this stripped-down format?

I guess deep down I’m still a folk artist or singer-songwriter, and I wanted to emphasise that — to go back to how I started. This is my fifth album, so I think there’s a lot of going back for me.

3. You mentioned wanting to “slow down, listen deeply, and meet your people.” Can you expand on what that means to you creatively and spiritually?

Sometimes you play to audiences, but you don’t really get to interact, and they don’t really get to see you properly. I wanted to get rid of that distance and be a bit closer.

4. The Solo Tour also previews new music. How does this upcoming material differ from what fans have heard on amaXesha and your earlier albums?

I am working on a new album, and I’m very excited about it. I’ve been recording it for the past year and writing it for the last two years. It’s been a very beautiful labour of love, and I really can’t wait for everyone to hear it. I thought this tour was a great way to debut the music — to introduce it. I hope people connect to the album because it’s such a beautiful and personal project, and I want people to get excited about it.

5. Performing solo often reveals an artist’s rawest form. What challenges or freedoms come with performing without a full band behind you?

It’s very stripping and very raw performing without a band. It’s daunting for me — there are a lot of nerves. I think the beauty of it is that people get to experience the true emotions of the song. What’s sad about it is how difficult and demanding it is being alone on stage.

6. You’ve described your music as “spiritual folk.” How does that sound evolve when performed solo compared to the layered production of your studio albums?

There’s a big difference when I perform solo and when I perform with a band. Luckily, I’m using Ableton to play some samples on the laptop — it gives the whole band experience even though I’m alone. I appreciate it because sometimes you just need a bit of bass or a bit of drums to keep the song at a comfortable place.

7. Many of your songs, like those on iiMini and Mangaliso, touch on love, loss, and transformation. Are there specific emotions or themes guiding your new material?

I’ve decided to write a bit differently with this new album. I’ve decided to focus less on love songs. This album is more introspective and more autobiographical.

8. With so many sold-out shows already, it’s clear your fans deeply connect to your authenticity. How do you maintain that emotional bond with audiences over the years?

I think in my career right now, I’m trying to show myself a bit more and connect not just through the music but in the way I interact and perform. I want to be more open and to come a bit closer to my fans at this stage in my career.

9. Each venue — from Hue Café in Durban to Drostdy Theatre in Stellenbosch — has its own atmosphere. How do you adapt your performances to suit each space and audience energy?

It’s really hard adapting from venue to venue. This is just, I guess, what musicians do.

10. The final show is a fundraiser for Bridges For Music in London. Why was it important for you to close this tour with a purpose-driven performance?

That was not really planned, but I’m really happy to work with this organisation. I’ve been to their school in Cape Town. I love what they do, and I’m so happy to finally do this show with them. We’ve been planning it for a while, and I’m really touched.

11. This tour seems both personal and reflective. Has returning to South Africa after touring internationally influenced how you see your artistry and your roots?

I would say my tour is personal and reflective, mostly because I am about to introduce new work. I wanted to do something a little different and make that transition a bit more interesting.

12. You’ve consistently represented isiXhosa and South African identity through your sound and visuals. How do you balance maintaining cultural authenticity while reaching a global audience?

Those are the things that represent South African identity, and keeping it global is something that always happened naturally. I didn’t really make an effort to do it — it just came naturally. I think I have those influences from being a lover of South African music while also having global music interests as well.

13. Storytelling has always been central to your art. What kind of stories are you hoping to share or rediscover through the Solo Tour?

My songs have always been about hope. That’s the theme I want to leave with. I want people to reflect on their own lives and feel a bit hopeful — a bit seen.

14. The music industry often prioritizes spectacle and scale. What message do you hope to send by choosing intimacy and connection instead?

I’m hoping that people will just appreciate seeing me in a different format. I know some people love this kind of format — not everybody loves the band or the loud vibes. That’s the kind of feedback I get — that people also want to watch me in an intimate setting.

15. Finally, for your South African fans who’ve followed you since Umlilo, what can they expect emotionally from the Solo Tour — and how do you hope they’ll remember it?

They can expect a lot of the amaXesha album and a little bit of the new album — just more of an explanation and talk through the songs.

Bongeziwe Mabandla’s Solo Tour kicks off on 16 October at Hue Café in Durban, followed by The One Room in Gqeberha on 17 October and The Black Power Station in Makhanda on 18 October, with tickets available at bongeziwe.com. The tour continues to House 87 in East London on 19 October, Untitled Basement in Johannesburg on 24 and 25 October, and The Ketchup in Pretoria on 26 October, where tickets are also available online. 

Fans in the Western Cape can catch him at Drostdy Theatre in Stellenbosch on 30 October and Axminster House in Muizenberg on 31 October, before wrapping up the South African leg at The Wave Theatre in Cape Town on 2 November. The tour concludes with a special Bridges For Music Fundraiser performance at Fabric in London on 19 November. Many of the shows are already sold out, reflecting the high anticipation for this intimate musical journey.